Flor (2024)

Dou Zhao happens to be one of my fav FLs in both book and the drama!

What I like:
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The casting is so good! I was excited to see Meng Zi Yi and Li Yun Ri bring the lead characters to life. They both did a good a job. They fit the role.
Song Mo's uncle was such a impressive character! Nothing at all like his cowardly "father".
Dou Zhao's mother was such a pretty woman! I'm sure sad that she was only on screen for a first few episodes.
So far I love that they haven't added any unnecessary drama that wasn't there in the book between the leads. What I like about them together is that they are my comfort couple. They are so damn nice to each other! The drama has brought that to light for me.
I like the idea about both of them going back in time, even though Song Mo doesn't remember there is a possibility of him remembering it one day. That's not how it happened in books but that's a welcoming change for me.
Dou Ming is so damn adorable! I was willing to let go of my resentment of her from previous life so I did not see that ending for her.
Zhao Zhang Ru has also been a favorite of mine and she gets a lot of screen time which I am very happy about!

What I dislike: (Mostly stuff that has been messed up from the book)
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The Dou family was supposed to have this rich history that's just missing. The currently Dou family was supposed to be so big with a few branches and in-laws. It would have been fun to see Dou Zhao navigate through them on screen, she did it so well in the book! (And she was just a child when she did that! I feel that it is such a missed opportunity)
The entire dynamic between Dou Zhao, her father, Wang Ying Xue, and Dou Ming lacked depth. It is much more satisfying in the books where Dou Zhao is actually the one who has the upper hand throughout their interactions and not once does she suffer because of Wang Ying Xue or Dou Ming's shady tactics. The only time she fails is to save her mother's life.
Since the book is so long with 500+ chapters it is bound to miss a lot of things but because of this I felt that a lot of things were missing in the drama and I had to fill in the gaps with the story that I remembered. I wish there were more episodes, but again a lot of things have to be taken into consideration so can't really blame them.
I'm not a fan of the changes that have been made to the Yuan Tong / Ji Yong character. It was okay in the first few episodes but later he just seems like underutilized character.

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A great rebirth drama

Lacking time to write a full length review, I will just simply say that this one is worth watching for any fans of Chinese period dramas. It’s an idol drama to be sure, but it maintains all the beats and elements that have made any excellent C period drama of yore stand out in the sea of period dramas from any country.

Rebirth dramas have been popular lately, and I think this one balances that fantasy aspect with realism quite well. It’s grounded in Ming dynasty aesthetics and politics, which helps that side of the story work much better than say that of The Story of Kunning Palace. The romance side is done quite organically, with the tremendous help from a director with solid vision to tell that story with palpable tension and believability. My only small gripe is that the character of Song Han just didn’t work for me - he seemed to me an unnecessary villain in a story already complex enough with various antagonists.

Ultimately, gripe aside, of all the Chinese romance period dramas to pick from this year, this one reigns supreme for me.

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Les fleurs sauvages n'ont pas besoin de la main de l'Homme pour s'épanouir

Au départ, les grandes lignes de Blossom m'ont fait penser à The Double. Une femme malmenée et trahie qui se voit offrir une seconde chance. Il y a quelques similarités, mais à choisir entre les deux, je regarderai avec plaisir Blossom une nouvelle fois. Dès son premier épisode, l'histoire m'a accroché jusqu'à son final sans traîner inutilement.

L'intrigue n'est pas nouvelle. Dou Zhao est une femme trahie qui se voit offrir une seconde chance. Elle conserve ses souvenirs et va modifier les événements afin d'évoluer sereinement et vivre une vie de paix. Dou Zhao est intelligente et patiente, ce qui fait d'elle une adversaire redoutable. Alors qu'elle profite de sa nouvelle vie, elle (re)croise le chemin de Song Mo. Un général motivé par la justice. C'est un homme intelligent et mesuré, ainsi qu'un excellent combattant aux côtés de son armée. Leur relation se développe sur le temps de façon entraînante et lente. Ils tombent doucement amoureux, alors qu'ils tentent parfois de se mettre des bâtons dans les roues.

La romance est mature, confiante et délicate, mais je m'attendais à plus. On sentait l'amour tout comme la confiance qu'ils avaient l'un pour l'autre. C'était aussi plaisant de voir quelques scènes de vie (notamment celle où FL coiffe ML). Ils étaient beaux, heureux et amoureux, mais ils n'étaient pas passionnés, malgré l'alchimie partagée. C'est ce qui m'a manqué, personnellement. Cette pointe de passion brûlante, bien que j'ai adoré voir ce couple évoluer au fil des épisodes.

Il y a plusieurs intrigues dans ce drama et toutes se sont terminées. J'ai eu beaucoup de peine pour Dou Ming. Et j'ai détesté la façon dont les scénaristes ont fait preuve de fainéantise au sujet de la mère de Dou Ming en la rendant seulement folle. Elle méritait de payer, car tout était de sa faute (ou c'est uniquement mon esprit revanchard qui le demande). Le sort de Wu Shan est aussi bancal. Cependant, ce sont deux acteurs que j'espère revoir prochainement. Et bien sûr, j'ai eu beaucoup d'affection pour la grand-mère de Dou Zhao. En fait, l'ensemble de la distribution est exceptionnel.

En revanche, il y avait un déséquilibre dans les antagonistes. En soit, ce n'est pas gênant, seulement mal équilibré avec des rancœurs qui surviennent sans prévenir. Au lieu d'avoir un effet de surprise, ça donne plus l'impression qu'il fallait en rajouter un peu plus.

Au-delà des manigances politiques, c'est aussi un drama historique qui remet en question la place de la femme. Cette année, j'ai l'impression d'en avoir vu beaucoup, mais ils sont plaisants à regarder, car chacun apporte sa pierre à l'édifice. Dou Zhao est une femme, mais comme un homme, elle est parfaitement capable de gérer des boutiques et de parier sur des parties de chasse. C'est une femme inspirante qui veut son indépendance. Elle refuse d'être "seulement l'épouse" de quelqu'un. Song Mo le comprend et ne tente jamais de l'enchaîner ou de l'empêcher d'évoluer en tant que personne.

J'apprécie aussi la scène post-générique avec le vieil homme et son histoire déclinée sous plusieurs fins. Cela rappelle aussi que nous sommes les héros de notre propre histoire, libre à nous d'en décider la fin.

En bref, Blossom est sans aucun doute l'un de mes dramas préférés de cette année. L'histoire tient la route. Les acteurs sont bons avec une belle mise en scène et un couple mature et honnête jusqu'au bout.

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This drama made me happy. The OTP was one of the best I’ve seen in a Chinese (or Korean) drama. After a brief rocky start (why do too many Male Leads in Chinese dramas start out wanting to kill the Female Leads?), the OTP quickly come to treat each other as true equals. The chemistry between the two lead actors is incredible and they radiate intelligence and competence--it’s no wonder everyone wants those two on their side. The music, especially the opening sequence, really grew on me. The pacing seemed nearly perfect. I was less impressed with the development of the royal intrigues, especially people's sometimes illogical motivations for doing the things that they did. I enjoy watching historical dramas for their political machinations and maneuvering so that was a little disappointing.

Hint: Be sure to watch past the closing credits for the last episode. It explained something that I’d assumed had been dropped and made the whole drama make a lot more sense.

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Excellent screenwriting, strong direction, solid casting.... a super satisfying watch.

It's odd because the plot isn't exactly original, the chemistry between ML and FL isn't much more than passable, the romance is really a side-dish to the story, the direction and costumes and backdrops were very good but not top-tier.... and yet it's on my short-short list of best things I've seen all year.

It's the screenwriting. It's just excellent. And then all the other parts come together to support that script in a weird undefinable synergy that creates the most amazing final product. It's so addictive.

And then the ending is exactly what the viewer would have wanted. IMO, it needed more romance and fire, so I knocked one full point off for non-stellar ML/FL chemistry. But honestly, I'd rather watch 7/10 chemistry relationships that have a really good HE, than watch a 10/10 chemistry pair that has a horrible SE.

Standing ovation to everyone involved in this, it was absolutely amazing.

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A Must-Watch Costume Drama of the Year

Blossom (Jiu Chong Zi) exceeded all expectations. From its captivating storyline to breathtaking cinematography, this drama hooks you from the start. The soft color grading, elegant storytelling, creative camera angles, and perfect music make every scene mesmerizing.

Brilliant Leads
The female lead, Dou Zhou, is a standout—smart, strong, and capable of protecting herself and others. Li Yun Rui’s male lead is equally compelling, with expressions that make him both endearing and dependable. Their chemistry feels genuine, and their slow-burn romance is beautifully done.

Top-Tier Direction
The director’s first full-length project is a masterpiece. The plot intensifies with each episode, and every character’s development is handled thoughtfully. Even supporting roles shine, adding depth to the story.

Minor Flaws
The translated title feels off, and the male lead’s hairstyle could’ve been better. Some villains are clichéd, and early interactions between the leads felt limited. But these don’t overshadow the brilliance of the drama.

Final Thoughts
Easily the BEST COSTUME DRAMA OF 2024, this show delivers top-notch direction, storytelling, visuals, and performances. Li Yun Rui and Meng Zi Yi finally get the spotlight they deserve. I’ll rewatch this anytime I need a quality drama. Love it!

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when you root for them individually and together... it's magic

ohmygoodness this put me through it (and i love it). don't you just love it when the main leads are both hot, smart, skilled and can be funny too? then it even gets better because they have so much chemistry! that's song mo and dou zhao. i've never rooted for a couple's happiness and triumph so hard. i admire their resilience and how they actually made each other better. every wins our leads get, it was so satisfying. that's also thanks to how good the antagonists in this story and man, we got multiple villains here and when i tell you my blood was boiling everytime omg lol i don't know how i'll rank them but wang ying xue that bitch (she's so freaking good). so yeah from the acting to the story to the romance, this delivered for me. at first, i was overwhelmed with the politics and the names but once i got the hang of it, i was good. this brought out the emotions in me. i cried, i laughed, i got mad and i cheered.

meng zi yi and li yun rui are officially on my favorites list now. they did so good. but even the supporting actors are amazing. again, the villains! especially the women! also shout out to ming (again wang ying xue you stupid bitch lmao) and ansu (i, too, was heartbroken when i saw how song han started changing. their ending! sad but incredible).

ps: it's actually the king and duke of ding's love story if you think about it lol

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solid and engaging first half with a muddled second half

This drama starts off very strong. The first episode was very well done and gives the two main characters a dramatic beginning that sucks you in to both their worlds leaving you wanting to see more. This costume drama delivers in so many ways with the production value, set and costume design, character growth, and plot movement. It gives you that small sprinkle of a fantasy element where the female lead has lived or dreamt of a life but then is able to change it by going back in time. While some circumstances can not be changed she finds that she herself can be. So she becomes strong, witty, and independent. Determined not to have to rely on a man and live a life where she has no choices of her own.

The first half of this drama is very engaging with excellent pacing and movement of the plot. Character motivations make sense and interactions are enjoyable. Then comes the second half of the story. And this is when it begins to unravel. Too much screen time is given to side characters just for those characters to end up not impacting the plot much or at all. Several of those characters could have been completely removed from the drama and it would not have changed the movement of the story at all so giving so much screen time to them, and for those scenes to be boring on top of it, really was a miss. Everything also slowed down quite a bit. While the first half gave us quick wit and strong presence from the main pair the second half sidelines them to focus too much on side stories that do not hold the viewers interest.

By the last ten episodes I felt like I was forcing myself to just get through as I was increasingly less interested in how the drama ended. While the pieces of the plot do fit together for a coherent story, there are so many unrealistic choices made as well that detract. The OST was also unmemorable.

All in all I would say it is an okay watch but would probably recommend something better with similar storylines or aspects instead of recommending this particular drama.

Warning for slight spoilers below.

It was nice to see the change in the sister from the first life to the second and her still ending up with the same person due to fate pieces the two lives together nicely. However, once the story paid more attention to Dou Ming and Wei Ting Yu the pair become less relevant to the plot and the interactions wholly uninteresting. Such wasted screen time on these characters for them to do absolutely nothing and essentially mean absolutely nothing. Then you have Song Han and Miao Ansu where they have no chemistry and their relationship again really meant nothing to the plot. So all their screen time was wasted and just ends up exhausting the viewer. It was also very unrealistic to see the changes in Song Han whom they made go from a quiet, frightened, and easily manipulated boy to a ruthless and reckless villain. His entire involvement really could have been given to any other character and it would have had the same effect on the plot as they just needed another person aiming for the main couple for no real reason.

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One of few best cdrama of 2024

I really like this show and mainly because of lead chemistry the story is refreshing and it's progressing naturally and slowly and I really like the plot when male tried to kill FL in start it's not like that falling in love frist time which I like both fall for each other slowly and her evil stepmother ending is so satisfying though I feel sad for her sister and and one of the thing I like most is that leads get married after half of show it's not like that they married few episodes before ending and they wrap up show quite nicely one thing that I didn't enjoy is song mo brother song han arc but it's important to show it because if they don't show it we didn't know that why song mo killed his brother in last life I like his ending from miao ansu hands now final thing I watch li yunrui in last immortal in which he is fine the reason I watch this show is that I watch frist trailer months ago in which his looks in white hairs really attracts me and atmosphere but li yunrui and meng ziyi really attracts me and I'm going to watch their upcoming historical dramas.

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Underrated

This one flew under a lot of people's radars which is such a shame because it's honestly such a GOOD drama, whether it be the acting, plot, or production.

FL and ML stand on equal ground and they have a very sweet and loving relationship with little to no misunderstandings. They get together fairly early on so the later half of the drama is more plot/political drama focused. The side characters all had their own unique characters and personalities, and I loved watching their personal growth throughout the series (and special shoutout to the FL's dad who made me tear up several times even though I was cursing him out in the beginning).

Would definitely recommend watching, and especially a good starter historical drama for those who are new to it.

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Amazing

I want to articulate how great this was but the words are almost impossible to find. I'll say this... there was not a single wasted episode. The story was excellent and for the director's debut of a long drama, this set an extremely high bar.

The drama's strength is its characters. SM and DZ are absolutely feral for each other. I love it. Both their entrances in the original timeline was so epic. I mean, the beginning scene was an amazing hook and a great way to introduce the characters. I was honestly sold on the drama before the end of the first episode, but everything after was nailed to perfection.

SM is absolutely a villain by a normal standard. I mean at one point he was ready to slaughter an entire household to keep his presence and that of a baby secret. He waterboarded his brother. I love him. I wanted him to go apesh*t on the entire royal line for how corrupt and stupid they are.

DZ was the most competent female lead I've seen in a minute. Even when things are out of her control she is always trying to manipulate through the sh*t that she's surrounded by. I love how crafty and strategic she is. And how it's her mind that SM is drawn to.

Two amazing characters with great story lines who are consistent and full of depth.

The story is gripping. I honestly want to compare this with Love Like the Galaxy for how much I enjoyed the court intrigues and the characters. Although LLTG spoiled me with a great emperor and that is definitely not the case here. I was honestly disappointed we didn't have a more deserving death for the emperor for how he betrayed his people/those loyal to him. But... I digress.

Absolutely perfect. The best costume cdrama this year!

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PERFEITO, SALVOU MEU ANO

Depois de ano onde eu quase todos os dramas chineses que eu vi terminam PÉSSIMOS, esse querido salvou meu ano com NOTA 10, entendo e até concordo em partes com as críticas mais aprofundadas sobre ele que estão por aqui, mas acho que na experiência geral de satisfação ao assitir, ele entregou tudo e mais um pouco, foi divertido, bonito, romântico e emocionante ao máximo, eu amei todos os personagens, até os que eu odiei, tirando a madastra dela, claro, essa parte sempre entediante.
Recomendo demais e assistirei de novo qualquer dia pq vale a pena MUITOOOO. Feliz ano e que mais dramas assim venham por aí!!

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