It could have been much better…

I have a moral aversion to face-swapping plot lines, but I thought I’d give In Blossom a try. For the first few episodes, I enjoyed it enough to keep going, but after a while.. it became tiresome.

There was a lot the writer did not decide to explore. For example, how the parents traumatized all the main characters, how the characters built themselves up from the trauma, and also making sure the characters could stand on their own without attachment to romance.

Pan Yue is obsessed with Yang Caiwei, and it ends up being that this is all we know of his character. It’s a shame, because we get small glimpses into his tough childhood, with his father suspecting Pan Yue of not being his. But alas, the romantic plot is the focus. We lose out on watching Pan Yue become loving and kind after healing from his past.

Yang Caiwei is the only character that develops. She is strong, but very insecure about Pan Yue’s love towards her at the beginning, and at the end. She becomes more self-assured once she realizes that he does care for her. However, Yang Caiwei already had a lot of agency before she met Pan Yue. He simply enhanced this.

Additionally, the SFL and SML relationship was icky to me. I could not romanticize the SFL being second choice for him. It was obvious she was a rebound, and ready to be one, which I think also comes from her parental trauma. She was ready to be used, and I feel really bad for her. Especially because the SML dies.

Overall, I think the characters were not explored as well as they could have been, an it lays in leaning too much into the romantic aspects, when these characters clearly have more depth, that we are given glimpses of.

I do also agree that the FL in the first 2 episodes would be been a better choice, but I still enjoyed JJY performance regardless.

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A fun, warm-hearted drama

I think a lot of love was poured into this drama, and it leans into comedy more than tragedy. I don’t think you’re supposed to take this drama too seriously, although moral lessons abound. it reminds me of The Starry Love, but the humor is dry, rather than slapstick.

The chemistry between the leads is electrifying, and you feel the adoration between them. The sub-plots also add to the fun.

It’s like if Meet Yourself was a Xianxia, very scenic and fun. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to relax while watching a Xianxia, since most Xianxia’s threaten to raise blood pressures.

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Let me explain

You’re probably wondering why I rated it an 8.5, despite loving all the factors. Well, I watched the show, and started from 10, and there were multiple things I did not like.

1. It bothered me that the first 6 episodes were backstory to the ending of season 1. I thought we’d jump straight to Fangfeng Bei taking Xiaoyao away.

2. The editing was atrocious. Particularly the war scenes. I was expecting something epic, not graphic art with an explanation and then a short scene of fighting.

3. Some episodes felt like pure filler, or felt off. The episode with the 3-some date for example. What the heck was that?

4. Due to the script leaks, a lot of it was lacklustre for me.

Now, let’s get into what I loved:

1. EVERYONE performed well in their respective roles.
2. The OST was delicious.
3. Even when the angst was fake, I felt it.
4. I also believe the story is strong, despite its flaws. I’ve taken away that I may have challenges in my life, but that it is best to persevere through them.

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Great Lesson, But There is a Lack of Fictional Character Development…

Tale of Rose


Rose is flighty (she has poor impulse control) and throughout her relationships and life, this does not change. I’m disappointed because although I understand this is a realism drama, I was hoping and praying for her character development. I wanted her to take more time away from men and to truly discover who she was beyond the selfishness. I wanted her to ask herself why she thought she needed a man, why she thought she couldn’t be alone, why she rushed into things, why long distance relationships affected her so much.

I want to add that I think when I watch realism dramas, I acknowledge that it’s like the Truman show. The pattern recognition I see in a character may not be consciously known by the character. But watching means criticising, and I know if others watched my own life, I’d have my own flaws and necessary character development too.


Now, I loved her brother’s character. He was way more stable and willing to fight for what he wanted. He won in the end and I’m so happy for him! He definitely had moments of weakness, but he returned back to a stable state.

Towards the end, I got super bored. I’m glad Rose could keep going, I struggled to.

Ultimately, I’ll give the drama a 7/10 because it failed to meet my expectations for Rosie.

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I didn’t like it

So, this was my first official Chinese drama back in 2020, and I couldn’t get behind the toxicity of the male lead, or the romantic relationship. I now know that modern dramas are not my thing, so that may have influenced my rating.

I saw their relationship as toxic because the male lead seemed to force the female lead into liking him, of course, she chose him in the end, but it left a queasy feeling in my stomach.

I also didn’t love the OST. I usually adore OSTs in Chinese dramas, but this one did not do it for me.

If I could say good things about it, all the actors and actresses are attractive, and the locations in the show are fun to watch.

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Time Travel Can Get Weird

So, this drama was fine. Until it wasn’t. I loved the performances, and the plot was interesting, but something to note about time travel is that it can make no sense if not done well.

The ending, at least in my view, made everything the FL did pointless. Her only achievement was making the original villain have a conscience, but he still maintained the same position as emperor in the end.

You could argue that the world would be better with a kind Emperor, but he also ends up with an illness he doesn’t originally have. Who is to say that the ML won’t end up as emperor? But that is all speculation.

The ending is based on the fact that a change in conscience will result in a change in action, and I simply don’t agree. The ending in the context of time travel ruined the drama for me.

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An Alright Xianxia

I watch a lot of Xianxia’s, and there’s nothing particularly wrong with this Xianxia, but it hangs low in a sea of excellence.

The performances are excellent, but it brings nothing new to the table. I also want to add that I nearly dropped this drama in the first 16 episodes because exposition should never be that long.

The mortal arc was fun to watch, and the aftermath was tragic. But there was nothing here that felt enlightening. Now, it is called Ancient Love Poetry, so that was likely a sign, but I would have loved for the SML to pine for someone other than the FL, and for there to be less of a focus on destiny in this drama.

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Educational

This drama is not unique in the world of C-Dramas. It talks about the struggles of women and how men underestimate them. But the female lead is interesting, in that she follows her goals while also pursuing romance.

Although I hated the SML, the yearning between the emperor and the FL carried me through. This was helped by the amazing music, and the emperor helping the female lead to achieve her dreams.

I believe romance is done best when the couple help each other. The FL and ML could not be together, but they supported each other. The romance carried me through, and I loved it. Not a boring moment.

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Not worth watching

This drama is a merry go round that made me want to get off very quickly. I powered through this drama, because I thought it could redeem itself with the FL and ML making it to the end.

I only say this because the FL is chasing the SML throughout the majority of the show, and so by the time she finally opens herself up to the ML, BOOM!

The mother of the SML needs the FL’s help and she has to go. I felt betrayed, and as heartbroken as the male lead. It dragged to the very end.

If the ending had been more satisfactory, I may have increased the ending, because it would have made the chaos worth it, but instead I got slapped.

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Loved it

Historical dramas are definitely my thing, and this was the second Chinese drama I ever watched. I loved how strong the female lead was, and how the show took a very feminist angle! While pursuing romance, the female lead also seeks to enact revenge. Weiyoung is smart, witty and driven. So, she becomes the empress in the end,

I also loved the male lead, and his devotion to the female lead. It helps that the couple are married in real life, because their chemistry is insane. I cried so much at the ending, the villains did not give them a chance to have a happy life at all.

Now onto the villains, as much as I hate Changle and Changru, they were awesome villains to watch. They were determined to get what they wanted no matter who they hurt. It made for an entertaining show.

The only part of the show I didn’t like was the second male lead, I felt nothing for him, and I didn’t like his braids!

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