Jiu Chong Zi (2024)

Smart leads, beautiful cinematography, and well-paced

Plot-wise, this is closer to a 9.5. There is a sub-plot that develops in the later third of the drama that I wasn't too keen on, and the acting (from that specific character that the plot was focused on) was just okay. But, it is a 10/10 for me in terms of enjoyment.

This drama was directed by one of my favorite directors right now: Zeng Qing Jie. He directed short dramas before, many that became very popular like A Familiar Stranger, Butterflied Lover, The Killer Is Also Romantic, and Provoke. You can tell he knows what angles and scenes to make the romance come alive.

And so, this drama does romance very well, with smart, competent, and mature leads. Their scenes are full of tension, and when they finally get together, their scenes are so sweet and loving.

Story-wise, it's about fighting fate and trying to change destiny. I love this kind of story, and I love that Dou Zhao also have setbacks--times when she questions if she can really make a difference. But she does! Her acts alone saves Song Mo, which changes his entire destiny. It's a typical story, but it's written well, with memorable lines.

This was Li Yunrui's biggest role yet, I would say. He's been in mainly supporting roles, and so this drama really gave him a chance to shine--and he did amazing. He's not super rugged or handsome like some other actors, but his boyish innocence and charm really worked for this story, especially since his character is also younger than the female lead.

I think this is also Meng Ziyi's biggest role since The Untamed. She became fairly well known from The Untamed in 2019, but she wasn't a main character then. She's done a couple of main roles since, but none of them gained this amount of attention. She really is beautiful in an ethereal way. I enjoyed her acting.

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may this kind of love and intelligence find me

All review title jokes aside. I wasn't expecting Blossom to work so well but it just... works. Captivating visual storytelling, an intelligent, strong FL I would die for, and an adorable romance.

First of all, this was one of the best first episodes of a drama I've ever seen. The visuals?? Actually to die for. Please please just watch the first episode—even if you don't continue the drama (but you should), the opening scene alone is a treat. Also, Song Mo's long hair... it's a crime that it never makes a comeback.

I honestly really have to applaud the director and writer. I have to say the actors, while they did a commendable job, did not do the heavy lifting in the success of this drama—the director and the writer did. From the choice of scenes and editing to the overall plot, I truly believe they did a wonderful job of crafting an entertaining story that seeps into the watcher's heart, even if it wasn't necessarily unique or fresh. (There's this one scene where a maid reenacts an event in her memory to give the leads a clue that was so beautifully shot and edited.)

This drama's strongest suit? Its female lead. Dou Zhao is a force to be reckoned with: independent, strong-willed, stunningly clever, with a dose of cynicism in the first half that I personally enjoyed. I wasn't completely sold on her in the beginning, but her level of scheming and the poise she carries herself with while she does it is hard not to love. I love that she is more intelligent than the ML, and I love even more that he's proud of her for it. It's rare, at least in my experience, to see an FL save an already very strong and smart ML this many times. And Meng Ziyi's dagger eyes?? Standing ovation.

Dou Zhao's counterpart is Song Mo, a general bent on justice and revenge. I was surprised at the amount of charisma Li Yunrui had while playing the male lead. Song Mo is by no means the coolest character ever, but I have to say he had a pretty strong presence. And with just a tinge of ruthlessness, you know I'm going to like him.

The romance? Guys. This is slow burn done as well as it ever has been. Would I have appreciated more buildup to the confession? Yes. But they still did a great job of distrust to appreciation to allies to lovers. The tension before the confession was pretty darn good (they made great use of the distrust between them. good job). And their married life is adorable. One of the first times I've actually liked a romance past the chasing stage xD. True to cdrama fashion, it's less tension-filled and more wholesome, with so many sweet moments that just made me sigh at my singleness. My favorite part about the romance is honestly how well-matched their intelligence is. Song Mo calls Dou Zhao his female Zhuge (as in the strategist Zhuge Liang), which is just. This is what romance is meant to be.

On the topic of characters, Ji Yong was also a joy to watch. An enigma that might be smarter than both leads combined, he was such a compelling character in his ambitions and the blunt way he viewed the world. The twist on his character was not one I appreciated, if only in that it took away some of the more interesting parts of his story, but it made him no less likable (perhaps more likable, if less interesting).

I'm by no means the smartest watcher. I don't search for plot holes. So with that in mind, I had a lot of fun with the plot. Schemes, schemes, schemes everywhere. Family schemes among the women, and later, political schemes. With such smart main leads, watching the twists and turns in their plans was a treat. There were some subplots and schemes that didn't really get fully utilized, but overall, the scheming really made me fall in love with historicals all over again.

So is Blossom a masterpiece? No. The acting is by no means flawless; sometimes, it's slightly too formal and staged. The plot is by no means unique and the writing by no means one of a genius. But it's captivating and gives watchers exactly what they want. And somehow, it latches onto you until you wish the end didn't come so soon.

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Let's walk together. Move forward together.

A captivating and enticing drama that is rare these days. The way the leads and other characters changed their destiny is just brilliant. Hats off to the writer.

Song Mo and Shogu are such a power couple indeed. I love how they didn't drag the story with the useless misunderstanding. This is how a couple would do it. Supporting each other until the end of their days. And the supporting characters were delighted to watch, especially Chen Jia, who had been an enemy in the past, become a great ally for our leads. Even Ansu, many viewers hated her, but understanding why she sided with her husband is a normal thing to do.

The ost was also great. What a wonderful drama to end this year. Definitely my favorite this year.

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A perfect blend of drama, betrayal, love, and revenge!

“Blossom” is one of those dramas that pulls you into a rabbit hole where every turn brings a new twist, and it was a great ride from start to finish.

What I loved:
1. Complex characters: Let’s talk about Song Mo and Dou Zhao. Song Mo is such a layered character, battling with betrayal, family drama, and a thirst for justice. He had such a quiet strength and vulnerability at the same time. Dou Zhao was intelligent, fierce, and unapologetically herself. I loved how she used her wit to navigate a patriarchal society and stand up to her family’s relentless scheming. The combination of these two was absolute fire.

2. The romance: Song Mo and Dou Zhao’s chemistry was everything, sometimes tender and sometimes intense. That kiss before Song Mo left for the battlefield was swoon-worthy. 🤭

3. Intriguing plot: It dives deep into themes of loyalty, familial obligations, and revenge. The “time-travel” twist was a clever touch.

4. Villains you love to hate: Watching Song Yi Chun’s and Ying Xue’s schemes blow up in their faces was so satisfying.

5. Visuals and storytelling: The sets, costumes, and atmosphere were stunning and brought the historical world alive.

What I didn't love:
1. Wei Ting Yu: I’m torn here. While his love for Dou Ming was genuine, his indecision and cowardice were exhausting. I hated him yet still felt pity for him after Dou Ming died.

2. Repetitive Interruptions: Why was everyone always barging into Song Mo and Dou Zhao’s moments? 😤

The balance between romance, action, and drama was well handled.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely.

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expectations met!

started watching this with high expectations and im glad that my expectations were met. an intriguing show from start to finish with amazing chemistry between all casts!! no unnecessary characters, i love how everyone did something for the plot lol. the story felt well written and the pacing of it was genuinely good, i did not feel bored at all throughout watching all 34 episodes & that is rare since this show does involve court politics but it was rly well balanced i didnt feel like it was unnecessary or draggy. dont think i even need to talk about dou zhao & song mo because everyone knows how good they were portrayed and the romance between them. really worth the watch! its actually main character centric LOL not like some shows that puts the second leads out too much

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Everything is great especially the costumes

Worth the hype, worth the watch everyone played and executed their parts excellently.

The female lead and the male lead have very great chemistry, the supporting characters were on point too.

I was pained when one of the twins died and FL younger sister died. I really hoped she would have a better ending but it makes sense though because in other for FL to change her fate, she had to die. Her marriage was one of the things that caused it.

The costumes made it even more worth watching.

Including it in my top 3 best historical drama of 2024.

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The black horse of the year

With the current cdrama world being so watered down, this managed to go against the flow and captured its viewers heart by the captivating and fast paced story telling, and the good looking actors, plus CGI.

There was very little to no scenes that I skipped, and that is the biggest feat of this drama for me. Each episode was covering a lot of background and story, with little but the perfect amount of 2nd and 3rd couples.

It might not be the best drama I have ever watched, but when watching I could see the crew's and actors blood sweat and tears embedded in it. The production felt very top notch, and there wasn't too much watered down scenes with random people talking that became irrelevant in the very next scene.

Overall, I love this drama for going against the flow, to prove that good drama can come with hard work, no need for top tired actors, or directors.

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The plot of Blossom is fast paces, although not so fast that you miss all the character moments or the quieter scenes of the drama. The story manages to build up the tension quite well and the drama seemed to have found a good rhythm early on, and consequently the story manages to flow quite well, especially at the beginning. It allows the characters a moment to breathe and gives us those quiet moments with them where we get to see how everyday life shapes them and how all the things that take place within the plot make them grow, thrive and change.

The story seemed to understand when to slow down and put forward this slow-burn romance before the plot starts again with full force with action, family-drama and politics. And since I really appreciate this kind of quiet slow-burn romance, where the main characters stare longingly at each other for about twenty episodes before anything happens, I thoroughly enjoyed the romance even though others didn’t think it wasn’t dominant enough within the story.

Our main character, Dou Zhao, is a talented, capable woman who is determined to have a say in her own destiny and make sure that she will get a happy ending this time. She plans to use her second chance to make her own decisions. And she proves that time and time again that she can take care of herself - and makes sure that everyone she cares about has a better ending than the last time. In this second life, she challenges the roles that society has given her as a woman. And in doing so, she finds someone who allows her to grow and be herself. It’s impossible not to root for her.

There is a certain darkness in Song Mo that is both very fascinating and alluring. The drama manages to convey his inner turmoil well and how that shapes the plot, and how his revenge and actions and his impulses and thirst for justice towards the one he loves is a driving force within the story. And the story manages to make him into character who is much more than the archetype of the asshole with a tragic past.

The spark between the two main actors is really good, they look great together and these characters’ quest for revenge and a better life is such a captivating and engaging tale within the story. They manage to lift each other up so well and complement each other.

However, there were at some points, especially towards the end, that I felt that small plot-holes had started to form and that the drama had a slightly tendency to rely too much on the supporting characters and those politicians, who drove the political part of the story, being stupid or incompetent. There were also occasional decisions of the side characters and how they turned off the right path or joined forces with the enemy that just felt a little too sudden.

Some things just seemed to happen because the plot needed it to happen, and it needed it soon. Blossom is a very plot-driven drama after all so to keep the momentum going, you might have had to rely on that kind of storytelling technique, but I personally wouldn’t have complained about getting a few more episodes of the drama just to allow those things to develop a little better within the story. But despite all that it was thoroughly entertaining throughout, so you may not always pay much attention to those weaker plot elements during the viewing.

The evil Stepmother and some of that family drama and dynamics often felt over the top or felt sometimes like a filler or unnecessary add-ons, but it also gave us quite a bit of fun and added a dramatic touch and certainly pushed the story forward, even if it was a bit of a cliché at times. But I took it that these kinds of things are tropes and such for a reason within these stories, so I can excuse it.

The theme of destiny and second changes, as well as taking control of one’s own life, certainly tugs at one’s heartstrings, even though this is not a particularly original plot – but it doesn’t all have to be original, it’s enough just to tell an old tale very well. From the first episode to the last, the story was full of thrilling incidents, soapy dramatics, action and the very slow-burning romance that was enthralling to watch. And the politics was, although at times not that smart, funny and exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed watching for the first time a long historical cdrama from start to finish.

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must watch

this drama has many good things
1) beautiful cinematography and beautifully shot (the fighting scenes, in the first ep the arrow scenes before they go back, the dream scenes, the shots with the petals, etc….). Well directed
2) acting was good from the leads. They did well for emotional scenes too. Also the supporting and older cast, I really like the portrayal of the emperor, I think the actor was great. Also other cast from the families of the leads.
3) the romance : it flowed nicely. them slowly falling in love, mature romance, trust, supporting each other. would do anything for each other and so much love. Good chemistry. I think compared to other cdrama, we got plenty of romance and cute moments. Also feeling confessed by ep 18 and married by ep 19 out of ep 34, I think that was very good. Less slow burn than many dramas this year. Absolutely no break or misunderstanding, strong couple till the end.
4) the transmigration/time travel was well written. I think « the dream » idea was very smart to pass censorship and very minimal since it was still obvious for us viewers that it was not a dream and they really went back in time. and only mentioned at the beginning of the story. I hate it when they do something like it was a novel or something, they add that at the very end to pass censorship.
5) I think the drama was well written in general, the plot was good, pretty fast pace, everything was going smoothly. as the story progressed, we were learning more about the villains, getting clues, etc… We got a bit of everything, some comedy, romance, action and more sad/emotional moments. ML and his uncle, mother (the pain from the deaths and seeing the flashbacks). When ML was dying, our sad couples moments, there was a pretty emotional ep, I don’t remember the number ahah but I was sad with the leads, they love each other so much. I think all the villains and their motive made senses. Like the 5th uncles who wanted his higher title (but still cared about the Dou family and his brother. I actually liked his death and I was almost sad. I think it was the scenes, the contexte and his brother/« lover » present. in the end, decided to do one last thing to protect his younger brother). The empress and her son, etc.. I actually enjoyed the political plot, I think it was interesting and I also think the villains were interesting.
6) great fighting scenes
7) Friendship. Between the girls, even the maids. ML and his guys, etc…
8) The character development of FL dad. how their story progressed and their reconciliation. He grow some bones, finally defending his daughter, standing up for his son-in-law (the drums moment), etc…
9) we got some diverse side arc/romance :
a)the sister and husband from the first life : I was feeling sad for Dou Ming. she was an asshole in her first life, but kind and gentle in her second life, she never did her sister wrong. But falling in love with the wrong guy. Not a complete trash in this life, but still a coward, a bad husband and a useless guy. Not gonna lie, they were kinda cute. She suffered a lot and her death was a bit infuriating. Dying like that and seeing her trash husband from afar drinking. Dying alone on the floor when she could have been saved. Anyway, I said KARMA when it happened, their bad deed in their first life and her mother sins. It was satisfying, the mom reaction and everything, learning she caused her own daughter’s dead. It was good how her dad didn’t even want to save her and she should be punished for her crimes. I laughed when he slapped her. Speaking of slapped, there was so many throughout the drama, that was hilarious to me.
b) An Su and Song Han : that arc made me mad. I was very mad at her for choosing/siding with the guy she barely knows against her friends for years. She was very stupid and easily manipulated at first. Their story was not interesting and making her a princess made no sense as she was literally a nobody/commoner. At last, it was satisfying when she learned the truth and killed him herself.
c) Chen Jia and Zhao Zhang Ru (FL’s cousin) : brief interactions, but they were very cute. They got their happy ending
d) the little past with the princess (sister of the emperor) and 5th uncle
e) the crown prince and crown princess. brief interactions too, but they were kinda funny at time and seemed like a good match. That was funny when they were the 4 of them and she mentioned the idea of betrothal between their unborn child, CP and ML reaction.
f)…maybe there is more ahaha
10) plot twist :
a) the fact that the dad (ML’s dad had an affair and switched the babies), didn’t saw that coming. How they explained he never loved his wife and the son they had, why he preferred Song Han. It was sad when he said those things to Song Mu. The sister was actually dead it seems, I was waiting for some plot twist and she’s alive + plus reunion, but that never happened. Anyway I think we had enough things going on ahaha
b) Ji Yong who was actually not with Prince Qing, all of this was a plan from the beginning with the emperor
c) the nephew of the empress who didn’t betrayed them
d) even the thing with the cat with Song Han, I think it was good that he was actually keeping the cat because he was using it for testing poison. I didn’t thought of that
e) the scenes when they were searching for the letter with the girl who was the maid, the flashbacks and reliving the scene and the letter that was hiding so close to them.
f) all the villains who were working together
11) villains getting what they deserved and punishment.
12) ending : great and satisfying ending. Closure for everyone and happy ending of course. Cute together and happy couple moments. Dad with his promotion, grandma being happy and travelling, them with the leads daughter was cute. Crown prince ascending the throne and the little monologue about the politics. Chen Jia and the cousin married couple. An Su doing her things and « looking for a husband ». Ji Young who will become a monk in this life too. Even them showing the kid of ML’s uncle
13 : no love triangle. We can say some side guys on liked FL, but that was very minimal, that’s not considered a love triangle. FL only has eyes for ML from beginning to end.

But, I think the kissing scenes weren’t great. I don’t know if it was a director’s choice, censorship or because the kisses were not so good (so they made it that way), but they were somehow disappointing for most of them. Pretty much cut short or we see nothing. The lips touched and them it’s all these camera angles and editing. Anyway just an observation, I wouldn’t call this an issue, I’ve seen way worst.

Also, the character of Mu (I don’t even remember if that’s the good name, but the guy at the beginning who liked FL). I think this character and arc was just completely useless and non interesting. Why did we need this useless side guy who had unrequited love. He personally annoyed me. At least, his presence was short. Even when it seemed like Ji Young liked FL, that was very annoying, can’t they just be friend?

So, to conclude, I would recommend, I think it’s a good watch, filled with romance, actions, intelligent leads, interesting plot and characters

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A story about the power of mutual love and trust

Only when you have the power to move mountains, can you change your fate. That's what the old man tells our FL. She desperately wants to avoid the mistakes from her previous life. And so she embarks on a journey to conquer the intimidating ML, a man who became so obsessed with revenge it ruled his every choice, action, and thought, and save the kingdom along with her loved ones. This story is really good. Chemistry between the actors (leads and supporting) was absolutely top notch. I didnt give it a ten because of various plot holes, and near the end I wasn't really feeling the villain or their motivations. I got bored until we got our time skip and then I was invested again. They take the time to neatly tie up loose ends, which I really appreciate. I thought the FL was awesome, I loved her character. She is smart, witty, driven and determined. She cherishes her friends and allies, going to great lengths to lend a hand when they are in need. She even has compassion for the antagonists.

One of the reasons I've rated 9.5 instead of 10 is because of the antagonist themselves. Some of them are alright but one in particular I had a big issue with. His motivation was flimsy and actually didn't make a lot of sense. But I can forgive that because of all the good things about this show. The ending felt kinda rushed but also made me a little bored.

Other than that, I thought the show was well-written and performances were spectacular across the board. I'm always a fan of time travel fix-it dramas, and while this one isn't as good as the princess royal (in my opinion), it's still really good, and has probably the best ending out of any chinese drama I've seen to date.

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Worth every percent of HYPE

Just watch the first episode, I bet anyone and everyone will love it and want to watch more. It’s truly the most perfect pilot in recent years. (Silver haired SungMo I am on my knees for you) The show and story doesn’t disappoint, it gets better & better. Every shot feels thought out and crafted with love & dedication, hats off to the director and cinematographer! Nothing felt lacking, from the acting/cast, to story, philosophy, costumes, set, AND OH, THE DIALOGUES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
My only teeny-tiny criticism is that they tried to make some villains have a “nice” ending but I could not care less. They were horrible people and deserved to die, let’s not add a layer of sympathy to them at the end.

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The Best of 2024!!!

This year wasn't the best year of cdramas but the end of the year has brought us amazing costume dramas such as Fangs of Fortune and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy but all of these dramas didn't end as well as Blossom did.

Blossom is honestly the entire package. The plot was nothing new but Blossom definitely executed it the best way. This drama honestly gives me the vibe of Love Like the Galaxy but in my opinion, this drama was a better version if Ling Buyi and Niaoniao communicated better 😂 This drama though filled with politics and schemes managed to give us such a sweet married life of Song Mo and Duo Zhao.

I am honestly in love with how they are together. Once they decided to be together, they never parted or doubted each other once. Duo Zhao was honestly such a heroine just like Song Mo says. I'm really really obsessed with the part of the plot where Duo Zhao helps Song Mo through everything especially the pivotal times that made him who he was in the first life.

She saved him from jail, and talked him out of rebelling when the emperor closed his Uncle's case. It was that river moment when Song Mo was about to give up his twin blades of loyalty and fillial peity when he decided to rebel in the first life, but because Duo Zhao was in his 2nd life, she was able to convince him not to continue.

The next one is when his mother passed away. The symbolism of him reaching for the spear that he used in his first life after being abandoned by his father was so powerful. Instead of being able to reach it, Duo Zhao saved him and turned him back in the right direction. Song Mo is such a pitiful but strong character. Him and Duo Zhao are such a perfect match and I really just loved them in this drama.

I also can't get enough of how many of the characters changed in the 2nd life. My favorites is Duo Ming and Chen Jia. Duo Ming didn't grow up with her mother in the 2nd life hence she didn't turn out badly. I actually cried for her when she died. Although she changed and her husband loved her, he was still useless. Chen Jia was hard to trust at first since he played such a pivotal role in the rebellion in the last life, but he was so cute with Duo Zhao's cousin haha. I was actually do touched when he killed the eunuch in the end and fought side by side with Song Mo.

In conclusion, this drama is the perfect mix of romance, friendships, and political drama. The rewatch value is definitely a 10! My top pick for this year!

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