The Story of Hua Zhi (2024)

Snailing Its Way to Victory

This is a painfully slow drama at first. I was so bored that I skipped to the 7th or 8th episode, waiting for something to happen. I obviously didn't miss much, as I was easily able to follow the story from there. The characters do a lot of exposè in their dialogue, so you can't really miss what has already occured.

Once the drama finally picked up, it was very enjoyable to watch. The female lead was a good girl, but she wasn't saccharine. She was smart and stubborn, and a truth teller. She could have maybe done well to have an actual character flaw, not like an "I'm so quirky, I trip over myself", type of thing. Just like something to make her a bit less perfect than she is. The actress that plays her is stunning. The ML is a stone-faced, icy, archetypal hero. No real character at all. That just meant that the secondary characters shone through. The older actors stole the show, really. I loved that they featured heavily in it, as they deserved.

The story structure itself was quite good. Yes, way too slow in the beginning, but it speeded up and got more exciting as it went along. Overall, I did find this to be a satisfying watch. The story of a girl that finds her place as the head of the family. The opening scene of her climbing the mast of the ship as a child, being the perfect metaphor for guiding her family back to safety and health.

Citeste mai mult

Good leads, mature vibes - The bare minimum that is so often lacking

OVERALL
This is an oasis in the severe C-drama drought of early 2024. While not perfect, it ticks so many boxes! Watch it if 1) you like capable FL and nice (instead of the usual cold) ML, 2) you like family dramas, 3) you're looking for cute romance based on mutual support and understanding. If you 1) are looking for steamy romance, 2) get bored by business drama, 3) can't stand occasional writing flaws, reconsider.

THE STORY
In one sentence: Rich girl becomes poor and finds her way back to wealth through business ventures. Basically, Dream of Splendour, rewritten. It put me off a bit because I was disappointed by Dream of Splendour (I personally think it's a bit overrated), but still gave it a try. In some ways (though not in everything), I enjoyed this one more.

Things I liked:
- ML is nice and supportive. I can't say it enough, I'm sick and tired of the rude and entitled drama lead. Can they stop making them?
- FL is smart and capable. Some people complained that she's a Mary Sue, but honestly, she's not doing anything a ML wouldn't do in a C-drama, so if you are fine with guys having multiple talents and saving the day, you should be alright with the girl doing it too. And no worries, ML does save her from danger a couple of times too!
- The relationship between FL and ML is healthy and not toxic (yes, I'm looking at you, Kunning Palace!). It is refreshing to see characters not only support and listen to one another but give each other space and respect each other's decisions.
- There's enough danger and adventure to make up for all the business and family drama.
- The family drama was not annoying. I'm not a huge fan and often skip scenes in dramas that spend too much time on family, but I actually found a few of stories quite interesting because of how different they were (eg. sister of ML or mean girl from FL's family) or because of character development (eg. some of the aunties in FL's family).
- Almost no distasteful CGI. The visual effects (and overall cinematography) are decent and not distracting

In comparison, there are few things I disliked, but they are not insignificant:
- The romance is super promising until around eps 25-28, then gets boring. It's the typical case of a well-written "falling in love" stage and an under-developped "in love" stage we see so often in C-dramas. As if there is no plot, no growth, nothing interesting that can happen after the leads confess their feelings. The last 4-5 eps bring some drama to spice things up, but the love story never delivers what it promised, to be honest.
- The palace politics is kind of poorly written. I quite liked the character of the emperor (he is actually a complex character), but I find that most things that didn't quite make sense to me had to do with the palace politics. For one thing, it feels like there is a lack of coherence. Who is the villain of this story? It's like you had different storylines with different antagonists. It's kind of all over the place.
- Some parts of the plot are weirdly illogical (eg. towards the end, FL does something that has negative consequences but somehow blames ML for it)

I would still recommend this drama, but these are definitely points to consider!

THE ACTING
Good enough for me. I saw FL before in a drama best forgotten (haha), but for some weird reason I really wanted to see her again. I don't think she's an amazing actress but she does it for me. ML I saw for the first time but is exactly the same. They had good enough chemistry too (such a shame it's underused!). And some secondary leads were quite good (young and old). This one boy that's in every drama is truly a gem! Might become the new Wu Lei!

THE MUSIC
Not my style, to be honest. But I've seen worse.

REWATCH VALUE
I think I might watch it again, but I'm not dying to like I have been at the end of other dramas. It's better than a filler, but not a "wow, amazing" drama for me.

Citeste mai mult

It is blooming good! Serious

The title of this show basically summed up the drama. It is all about one girl and her family's rise above terrible adversity and the many challenges they faced. It starts simple enough. All the main characters are introduced and the world building begins. Once the show hits its stride, calamity hits. The FL's family literally went from a position of power and influence to object poverty overnight.

Rather than just accepting her fate, the FL comes to the fore and takes charge of the situation and changed her family's fortune. Along the way, she found love and changed the lives of many people she touched.

The series is full of positive messages, and they are delivered quite effectively by an engaging storyline. Yes, the plots are tropey but the way they unfolded is well scripted and its pacing is good. You won’t feel bored nor confused.

It is a good drama overall and quite enjoyable. A large part is attributed to the solid FL character. She faces every challenge head on and uses her initiative and intelligence to overcome them. Of course, the ML is there to do the heavy lifting and lend a sharp sword. In that sense, the show is a bumpy ride, but the trajectory is always upwards. We are never left in utter despair. This is a double-edged sword as we are almost conditioned to see a silver lining around every storm cloud. The show does go dark from time to time, with death and suffering just around the corner. It is just our leads who are mostly Teflon coated.

There is a good deal of fan service in the second half of the last EP before the HEA ending arrives on cue. All the main threads are tied up with pink bows and most characters have their arc concluded satisfactory.

I am pleasantly surprised by the acting abilities of the large support cast. It would not be an exaggeration to use terms like cast of a thousand. There are so many actors with speaking parts! It ranges from highly regarded veterans to young green actors. There are the odd hit and miss but, overall, they lifted the series and provide able support to the leads when the going gets tough. The production value is good but not quite S rank. They didn't cheap out on the sets and costumes.

I believe this is the FL’s first historical drama. I have seen her in contemporary dramas. I not a real fan before this show. I find her other performances to be a bit stilted. However, she is good in this drama. The style suits her and the low-key makeup as well.

While the ML is handsome and the fight scenes are decent, his performance did feels oddly detached at times. To be honest, a bit wooden. All the actors are dubbed but his dialogue just feels too measured and flat. It is as if the lines are recorded in a vacuum. It is odd when almost every other aspect of the series is solid.

I started with low expectations but I was pleasantly surprised. It is tropey and a bit cheesy. A guilty pleasure for me. That’s entertainment!

Citeste mai mult

Enjoyable historical slice of life chinese drama

GOOD:
- Lead couple: great chemistry, nice romance with smooth development. They are a cute pair of lovers supporting each other in adversity. Break up not too angsty and happy ending for them.
- Slice of life: it is about the life of the members of the Hua family and what happens to their household members while facing the hardships they meet and rebuilding themselves relentlessly
- Many likeable characters with good developments
- Good comedy with some hilarious moments.
- Some WTF twists that are very sad and emotional.
- Schemes are not too outrageous
- Good action when it happens with good swordplay and bloody brutal killings at times.

LESS GOOD:
- The drama is centered around female characters who sometime have useless chit-chats that bring nothing to the plot.
- Investigation plot goes from one villain to another villain then another villain with no real sense of danger for the lead couple and for ML as the leader of the Bureau of Security.
- The emperor has seen too much to be outsmarted but he is also a bully, manipulative and annoying at times.
- Ending final boss is kind of a joke.

OVERALL: I enjoyed it. Recommended

Citeste mai mult

Flowers that bloom in adversity

One doesn’t meet a girl like Hua Zhi in an ancient society. Thou one does meet a girl like Hua Zin in an ancient idol romance story.

And I meant it well. Hua Zhi is the kind of female lead that we ladies root for and want to be in our heart. After a long day’s work, it’s healing watching a smart, independent, courageous female lead successfully starting a business and leading her group of supportive family and friends out of poverty after the guys in the family are forced to exile.

Other than this strong female lead story done right, it has all other lovely elements such as romance, friendship and kinship.

Yan Xi is the god sent male lead for Hua Zhi in an idol romance. Strong, understanding and respectful. Their love story is one of the healthier ones that dismisses most troupes. Though Hu Yi Tian and Zhang Jing Yi chemistry is a little lacking, it’s healing watching Yan Xi and Jing Yi’s steady progression, heathy communication and supportive teamwork.

There are many other couples in the story too, which make up for a good time. From the happy bickering couple (Bao Xia x Chen Qing), to innocent playmates couple (Shao Yao x Shen Er), to supportive married couple (4th uncle and aunt), I quite like all the love story lines. Even granny’s first love story with grandpa got a shoutout.

Moving on the next point - the friendship and kinship. Blossom in adversity is not only about Story of Hua Zhi. It’s also about story of each Hua Lady. Every one of them is a unique flower that blooms prettily on her own right. I like how every of them have a memorable trait / character despite the big cast.

First, there are Hua Zhi’s grandmother, mother and aunts. Not many stories highlight the friendship of grannies in their 60’s and beyond. I love the backstory that Blossom in Adversity gives to Zhu Mu. We got to see a glimpse of who she was when she was a teenager, how she talked about her first love and what her considerations were as the head of a large family.

Myolie Wu plays the prideful 3rd aunt who has a soft heart. There can be many things you will feel frustrated about being family with her - at the end of the day, she does care and is reliable when times call for it. Her words to Hua Zhi, “Family is not a place to talk reason” may sound like she’s pulling rank. But indeed, sometimes reason is not the solution.

Second, Hua Zhi has 4 maids who become reliable business partners. They are interestingly named after the 4 seasons, adding color to the flowers with their own storyline - Ying ‘Chun’, Bao ‘Xia’, Nian ‘Qiu’, Fu ‘Dong’.

Third, Hua Zhi’s sisters also got mini spotlight in this 40 episode story. The one who stood out to me is Hua Qin. One might not respect Hua Qin on her schemes and only thought of using marriage as a way out. However, I thought it was a good contrast to Hua Zhi, without vilifying Hua Qin’s method.

All in all, Blossom in Adversity is a little tad perfect with Hua Zhi and Hua Family’s lovely ladies successfully building their business in the ancient society together. The guys somewhat become the Hua Ping (vase) in the story. But it kinda of hit the right tune when one wants to relax and feel a win after coming home from our real life’s adversity.

Citeste mai mult

FROZEN FACES

Since the men of Hua family are forced into exile, all glories and properties are taken away, leaving behind the women & children in predicament living in dire strait and nothing. All women whose use to live in luxury and privileges, now suddenly has to face the hardship of survival in a moment notice. Basic needs can't have them, about 10 women and few children know nothing how to do simple chores, depends on maids - who stay just for their slave transaction documents with head-madam. Hua Zhi, the oldest Daughter of the family, no longer stays low-key and steps up. She braves hardship and leads the women of her household to manage to avoid starvation and danger. She transforms family to successful in businesses and becomes the head of family. Female center of drama, can't say I like it, too much washy-wooshy. All those pitiful begging, whiny, crying, jealousy, virtue signaling, toddler-likeness voice from supporting female actors...so cringe.

To me Hu Yi Tian has frozen face, like too much of Botox, can't really express anything. He's so much better when he has the mask on, only his acting we can judge. Zhang Jing Yi has also frozen face, plus her smile is a (rictus) stoical grimace, her acting so so - nothing special. Because they both have frozen face, they seems to have a dispassionate love story.

What I like is Hua Zhi doesn't need Gu Yan Xi to help her all the time. Behind the mask, Gu Yan Xi is another character. I don't know if Hua's men all finally come back home from their exile because I don't finish the drama. What finally happen with Gu Yan Xi's future? I might have to fast forward to final episode....

Citeste mai mult

"Blossom in Adversity" isn't just a title; it's a promise of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity. As the men of the Hua family face exile, the burden of survival falls upon the women and young boys left behind. At the heart of the tale is Hua Zhi, with her skills, courage, and bravery she steps up and brings the family out from the countryside back to the city life with her business propositions and tricks that wow the city. She makes enough money to get her family out of starvation and they bond over time learning to lean and love each other.

What I love about this series:
What sets this series apart is its authentic portrayal of human interaction. The chemistry between the leads feels refreshingly natural. Rather than being a constant savior, the male lead subtly supports Hua Zhi. Moments like their journey from the jailhouse back to the countryside lingers in my thoughts after it ends. I also loved every conversation they had. He told her enough not to reveal his identity but he never lied to her. And with FL, her intelligence and kindness she extends to strangers not only touched ML heart, it also touched mine.

The OST is also another favorite, I truly think they make or break the drama. I love Curly’s voice and was super excited to see her sing the opening. But the song that won my heart is Night and Day by Baby.j and Liu ZhiJia. I have to say Baby.j has been singing a lot of OST I love so I look forward to them each time. This particular song when it played each time it was usually when they were overcoming a situation, brave and strong. Just like the lyric “I don’t admit defeat or quit; I just run towards the first light” it just tears me up!

While the spotlight shines on the main characters, all the side characters shine just as brightly. I grew to love each one of them even though I couldn’t stand some of them to begin with. Personally love Shao Yao nuanced portrayal of autism and how her character grows as she later becomes a part of the Hua family. Chen Qing and Fu Dong mini love line is also another favorite! I’m rooting for them and hoping to see to grow.

What I didn’t like:
I’m going to get hate for this, but personally, I've seen some of the actors and actresses in other series and I had a hard time watching some of them in here because there was something different about them. And because of that, I felt some of their facial gesture just looked a bit stiff, so knocking off a star because I couldn’t thoroughly enjoy it.

Anticipating:
As the series hurtles towards its conclusion, anticipation hangs heavy in the air, especially for me. I truly hope the ending is not a disappointment.

In the meantime, the allure of the series proves irresistible, beckoning a rewatch as the countdown to the finale begins.

Update: finally finished the series and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend this series to those who want a casual and entertaining series. I love the storyline, the pace, and the characters. The first series in 2024 that I truly enjoyed!

Citeste mai mult

Visually appealing, poor writing, cringe cliches, characters with potential let down by the script

Maybe I'm just not the target demographic for these types of shows. I'm a huge fan of rom-coms and have seen a few chinese/historical shows before, but most of the time I end up dropping costume&period dramas. I stuck through to the end of this one just to see how things play out, but it was difficult.

The show itself is filmed well and looks better than most chinese dramas I've seen. I really liked the character Shao Yao (ML's sister). I think she did a fantastic job portraying her character and every scene with her felt refreshing. Even though her side romance wasn't the most developed, it still felt worth the screentime and I enjoyed the chemistry between her and Shen Huan (at times I felt I enjoyed their chemistry more than the leads). The main romance between the two leads felt okay. I think their on-screen chemistry definitely took a hit with the poor writing and cringe cliche moments, but they did their best and made it kind of work. The progression felt a little slow at first, but it wasn't too bad. Unfortunately it's hard to really feel that connection between the two when the script is so full of cliches.

It kind of seemed like the ML didn't really get that much screentime compared to the other characters. Towards the end he definitely got more scenes, but near the beginning and middle of the show I feel like I barely saw him at all. The show focuses more on the FL I suppose, but it felt weird calling him a ML at times when he just showed up for a few short scenes and then dipped for the rest of the episode. Like he would only show up to remind us that he's the ML, and then disappear again. Him and the FL didn't get as many scenes together until nearing the end, and even then it was kind of on-and-off. They would meet up, have some flirty heart-fluttering moments together, and then separate and go about their individual scenes. Kind of hurt the chemistry in my opinion.

FL is too perfect. I love the actress, so no hate towards her (or any of the actors/actresses for that matter), but I wasn't a huge fan of how they wrote her character. She was supposed to be the "not-you-average-FL", but instead they just made her completely flawless and strong to the point that there was nowhere left for her character to go. The writers couldn't find a way to develop her character because there was nothing to develop. She was forgiving, caring, responsible, everyone looked up to her, she helped others all the time, etc., so she had very little character development throughout the entire show. The ML on the other hand had some potential to be an interesting character, but he didn't get as many scenes and was kind of used as an accessory to the plot most of the time. Sometimes it seemed like he was only there to add the romance into the show but didn't really provide much outside of that despite being a commander. The whole commander plot could have been a very interesting one to pursue, but it was put on the backburner most of the time and not really utilized to its full potential.

Also, sooo many side characters. This wouldn't be bad necessarily if they were actually interesting or if I actually cared about any of them. It seemed like they introduced a new side character with their own problems every couple episodes, in which the FL has to find a way to help them. Many of the side characters over-acted a little too much at times as well. Exaggerated movements, yelling, facial expressions, etc., like that one mother character they introduced at one point (I honestly don't remember her name) who was just crying in every scene she was in. I wish they would have focused more on developing the main characters instead of introducing more side plots.

And as with most of these romance shows, there are quite a few cringe cliche moments. Ones that kind of break the immersion for me sometimes, but I suppose it just comes with the genre. I guess you can give this show a try if you think you might be part of the target demographic. If you are then you'll probably love it.

Citeste mai mult

A story of hope and resilience in adversity and a joyful fairy tale in wishful thinking

There is something intensely satisfying with stories in which the underdog overcomes unimaginable adversity to succeed against all expectations. Throw in well-paced story arcs, an incredibly smart, sensible, progressive, and courageous protagonist, supported by a cast of flawed but loyal and caring friends and family members, and we have a recipe I can’t resist.

Blossoms in Adversity is a wonderful historical drama that celebrates the strength and resilience of women by putting a spotlight on their incredibly oppressive lives in ancient China through the fall and rise of the once-illustrious Hua Family. I was willing to suspend disbelief and enjoy this magical and joyous fairy tale in wishful thinking, where the value of truth and the power of good will always prevails.

The Hua family patriarch is a high ranking court official of unimpeachable integrity who refuses to speak dishonestly simply to curry favour with the Emperor. Enraged by his subject’s impudence, the Emperor exiles the Hua men to the northern borders to do hard penal labour and confiscates the family’s wealth and home. The remaining family members -- the many wives and concubines of the four Hua sons and their children (boys under the age of 13 and all the daughters) -- are left to fend for themselves. Were it not for a rustic cottage outside the city bestowed many years ago by the Dowager Empress to the family matriarch -- best friends in their youth -- the women and children would have nowhere to go.

With the exception of our heroine, the eldest granddaughter Hua Zhi, who had travelled the realm with her grandfather as a child, the remaining family members are spoiled and pampered and at a complete loss over their reversal of fortune and the harsh realities that come with it.

I was brought to tears more than once by the heartfelt joys and heartaches of this imperfect, but delightful family and their servants. I have never been so moved by the funeral of a secondary character, especially with the arrival of an unexpected, yet pivotal guest. But I spent much of the 40 episodes grinning and cheering in satisfaction and joy over the family’s remarkable successes. Despite grim family circumstances, Blossoms In Adversity is about hope. It also deftly showcases the many ways “hope” is defined for different women: independence, divorce, marriage, love -- even when they are far from ideal.

I have no illusions that the premise is filled with impossibilities. Hua Zhi, played by the lovely Zhang Jingyi (张婧仪), manages to pretty much single-handedly bring the Hua family back to prosperity -- twice -- within the short span of (but generously estimated) three to five years. I can’t describe it any better than MyDramaList reviewer PeachBlossomGoddess who wrote in her excellent review:

“...no feat is beyond Hua Zhi! She parleys a candied hawthorn business into a pastry and restaurant empire, picks up stray royal children, foils a few palace plots, build schools and a canal, rescues the Hua family men and even manages to find time to fall in love!”

That’s all!

Hua Zhi is a heroine for the ages, a role model in perseverance, unwavering integrity, hard work, with a sharp mind for solving difficult problems and a sharp eye for spotting potential threats and reading her adversaries. There is almost a Mary Sue-like quality about her achievements and seeming perfection. Unlike the ensemble cast of spoiled aunties, sisters, cousins, servants, and friends (such as the endearing Shen Huan) who experience great character development as they learn to adjust to a vastly different quality of life and social status, Hua Zhi undergoes the least amount of growth. Yet if she were so perfect, she would not be so stupid as to speak defiantly to the Emperor, having already previously witnessed the grievous consequences of doing so -- not only with her grandfather, but with the man she loves -- Gu Yanxi, stoically played by Hu Yitian (胡一天).

Under the Emperor’s command, it is Gu Yanxi -- as the commander of the much-feared Security Bureau -- who confiscates Hua Zhi’s home and takes away the men. But it is under his own free will that he becomes Hua Zhi’s protector, confident, and love. But this free will rankles and offends the cruel and controlling Emperor, who does not hesitate to demonstrate the lengths to which he will go to wield his absolute power and force his nephew to kowtow to his will. Gu Yanxi’s strength yet helplessness in the face of his uncle, who raised him like a son, makes him a complex and fascinating hero, but one we never get to know as intimately as we do the women in the Hua family.

A LIKABLE ENSEMBLE CAST

This was my first drama with Hu Yitian, and his depiction of a stoic prince really worked for me. I’ve seen some comments criticizing his unflattering period styling and that he can be a bit flat and expressionless in his acting, so perhaps his portrayal would have landed differently and felt more stale had I been more familiar with his previous roles. In any case, Hu Yitian did an especially fantastic job demonstrating his strength as a fighter during climactic fight scenes and evoked a certain presence in this drama. It did not take long for his character to grow on me.

At first glance, Caesar Wu’s (吴希泽) Shen Qi is so honorable and immensely likable that I worried I might develop “second male lead syndrome”. Despite his high billing, however, his character actually disappears for a good chunk of Blossoms. Much of Shen Qi’s character development was done early, so by the time he reappears later in the drama, he is relegated to a likable, but somewhat flat, supporting character. It is his brother, Shen Huan, who takes a surprising turn with the more interesting and very sweet story arc with Gu Yanxi’s sister. Bian Cheng (边程), who has been acting since he was six or seven, is just 19 years old and shined in the role of the earnest but spoiled and lazy rich second son with the kind heart.

Actor Hai Yitian (海一天) delivered an effective performance as the Emperor who ruled with Machiavellian cruelty without turning him into just another two-dimensional evil character. He trusted no one, had no tolerance for soft emotions or having his authority and judgment questioned, and yet he appeared to long for his nephew’s company and unwavering trust.

Among the wonderful ensemble cast of women, Lu Yuxiao (卢昱晓) perhaps stood out a little more as Gu Yanxi’s sister, while Fu Bohan (傅铂涵) stood out the most among the cast of children as the Sixth Prince.

I derived enormous joy and absolute satisfaction witnessing Hua Zhi's preposterous achievements. It didn’t matter if it was realistic or not. (In the real world, would the men of the Hua family have truly accepted their new role as passive husbands and allowed the women to continue to handle the family decision-making? I have my doubts.) Despite these flaws -- or perhaps *because* of them -- I can’t help but give Blossoms in Adversity a high rating as one of the best dramas of the year.

NIT-PICKS AND STRAY THOUGHTS

* My biggest production beef was the unnecessary dramatic echo sound effect whenever a character said something impactful. It was too cheesy even for me and very distracting.
* Similarly, during particularly climactic scenes they would momentarily freeze the frame like a photograph on multiple characters’ faces for dramatic effect, that also felt a bit cheesy.
* The Emperor knows all, yet we never see him actually conducting any court business! How did he have time for everything and still expend so much effort on his poor nephew?
* Given how little the Emperor trusted even those closest to him, it’s a marvel his closest eunuch managed to survive his leadership!
* Was Yanxi stupid for charging into the palace? It seemed too reckless even under the circumstances.
* Pretty sure there were several consistency errors, including one where the sister was shown sitting outside her second floor sanctuary -- after it had already burned down and they moved back to the Hua Mansion.
* Large fires can take a long time to extinguish even with modern firefighting equipment, but the family’s rented city home was already a pile of smoky burnt ashes the very same day and cool enough to walk through.
* The Hua women’s flawless skin and untanned face despite labouring under the hot sun for a year building the canal was hilarious.

Citeste mai mult

Formidable ML & Feisty FL

I am a (small) fan of both the ML and FL after seeing their outstanding performances in other dramas. Thus, I was more than happy to give this drama a go and boy, it did not disappoint and I am truly delighted about this!

What I Loved:
- ML was so tall, so handsome, so cute, so goddamn powerful and strong. I loved that he wielded such authority and yet, he did not abuse his power (in general). The fight scene where he walloped the previous Commander of the Security Bureau was extremely cathartic as well as both jaw-dropping and mind-blowing. Wow! That punch punch punch punch punch!!! Loved it!
- I loved that ML was also devoted and sincere to his lady love.
- Good chemistry between ML and FL. I loved seeing ML as well as both of the love birds on screen.
- I always love a feisty and intelligent FL and FL in this drama did not disappoint. (Of course, I suggest gently to suspend all disbelief and just enjoy the drama and the powers of what a FL can do.) She was supremely capable and plucky. She was highly intelligent and modern in her thinking. She was confident and yet, human.
- Acting was great from everyone in the drama. The supporting cast of four women acted by veterans was awesome. They definitely understood their assignment and was beyond great. Everyone else in the show like the lackeys from the Security Bureau, FL's grandmother, Shen Huan, Shen Qi, the maids, the children and so on delivered great performances. Thumbs-up!
- I liked that everything was paced very well. There was nothing draggy and there was nothing that was too quick that it was, to me, considered not properly explained or accounted for.
- Riveting and intriguing plot which made me want to watch on and on. So many interesting and suspenseful things were happening. There were elements of cute too. Great plot! Well directed!
- The music sounded very modern and catchy. I liked the tunes.
- Happy ending!

What I Didn't Like:
- The king was all sorts of crazy and had his own selfish agenda. He was also so paranoid about losing his throne and was so very bloodthirsty.
- Hua Jing was absolute nutcase number 1. She should have leveraged on herself and not constantly blamed others and desire for things out of her control.
- All the bad people such as all the abusive husbands.
(I mean I get the memo from the script writer. I'm just saying.)

Overall, Blossoms in Adversity is a superbly wonderful drama and I highly recommend it! <3
It is well-made and the cast is all great! There is also a bit of a moral in place too that we should all blossom in adversity. Adversities abound in life. How we respond/ react to adversities and how we overcome them are more important. Problem-solve and continue to blossom and grow in adversity and despite adversity. <3

Citeste mai mult