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The importance of family when everything is lost
I was hesitant to watch any more historical dramas because they had been quite repetitious and uninteresting. However, I was hooked on this drama since it was quite good! The cast, including Zhang Jing Yi and Hu Yi Tian, is fantastic as always, and the plot is excellent. It was well worth seeing! I love how this isn't a typical female lead who suddenly knows everything and knows how to solve everything but there was a story behind why she is different from others.I am so glad that Lu Yu Xiao is getting the recognition she's getting because that girl can act! She is always enjoyable in every drama I have watched her in and I'm glad she's getting more main roles because she deserves it!
The plot revolves around Hua Zhi, a girl in the Hua family who is viewed as nothing more than a disappointment for failing to follow her "female duties," and how she is the main reason for the family's survival when all of the male family members are deported. One of the reasons I loved this drama was that it portrayed the reality of families; sometimes people would just worry about themselves. One of the reasons I enjoyed this drama was because it depicted the truth of families; sometimes people would just think of themselves and spite each other to obtain what they want. The fact that no one got along well with each other, blamed each other and were distrustful of each other, and having Hua Zhi there to bring the family back together while they were going through difficulties, was extremely great to see. Typically, having family members in c-drama assumes there are nasty parents or aunts, but there was none of that. I was initially terrified of Madam Xia since she appeared to be a typical wicked aunt (maybe I had watched too many cdramas), but she was actually very nice and was simply trying to keep the family together. Even the daughters were close by the end, though I was saddened that some of them had passed. I was worried when one of the daughters married Sun Xiang, who had about 8 concubines, but it was incredibly satisfying to watch how such a little girl controlled the entire family and even the guy was afraid of her lol.
The plot flowed incredibly nicely, and these cases fit flawlessly, providing a really wonderful build up. This drama isn't about discovering one actual villain; instead, it's about the Hua family working hard to acquire enough money to reunite their family as the male lead assists her along the way. It is an excellent drama that I would highly suggest to anyone! (There's a happy ending, which is definitely a positive.)
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I recommend
Thanks to the writers of this drama for giving us less common trope filled plot. This is the one drama that the romance being as muted as it was, was actually not bad at all. The focus of the drama was overcoming adversity and doing it with love and our FL did it with such aplomb. Although her family members took sometime to come around to her way of thinking when they finally did the family became unstoppable.I have seen a lot of horrible emperors in CDramas but this one does take the cake because he was horrible for no reason other than he was d emperor.
Anyways to say I highly recommend this drama will be an understatement.
Happy viewing new viewers, enjoy the ride
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Power Couple, Lovely side characters
I came here for LYX, stayed for ZJY. Both Shao Yao and Hua Zhi are loveable characters that stay true to their hearts. HYT did alright with his character however in my personal opinion he lacked a bit of spectrum on his emotional acting. That however is a small demerit to an otherwise beautifully crafted show. Among all recently aired dramas for the first half of 2024 this is definitely one of the top ones on the list. Lovely to binge or to watch slowly while doing other things.Was this review helpful to you?
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My Favourite Watch in 2024
Adapted from the web novel “Xi Hua Zhi” (惜花芷) by Kong Liu (空留), “Blossoms in Adversity”, this drama isn’t a one man show. No, rather it chronicles the individual journey of each character. It could be the main leads, Hua Zhi or Gu Yanxi, each of whom had their own struggles; or it could be the female residents of the Hua Family whose sudden fall from grace led them to live a life of misfortune, something they could have never imagined before. Even though they had their disagreements, blood is obviously thicker than water. They argued, fought and yet stood together when the times were worst. How far can a bunch of women hold out when the Emperor of the nation is out for their blood? The story line beautifully weaves a redemptive recourse with a somber romance. Neither overpower each other, they exist in perfect harmony, blending through motions. For now, let’s talk about the main characters and their journeys!Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/04/27/blossoms-in-adversity-series-review/
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In the first half, the enemies to lovers plot is extremely satisfying. Hua Zhi and Gu Yan Xi are both earnest characters trying to do their best and find some happiness despite the emperor and fate standing in their way. There's also a lot of endearing scenes as the women of the Hua family band together and become resilient and independent.
But in the second half the plot grinds to a halt. The emperor is not suited for ruling during peace time, and there is no way he will forgive Hua's family. Of course, Hua Zhi and Gu Yan Xi would never rebel, so they just . . . wait for him to change his mind ??? If you were hoping for political intrigue and machinations, there are none to be found.
The acting overall is so-so (Gu Yan Xi needs a lot of music and effects to be intimidating), but the chemistry between the primary couple and the secondary couple both is excellent. I was cheering both couples on and it's the only reason I kept watching the show. The music is fairly good nothing here to really rewatch.
In the end, there is no complexity of themes or plots, but I appreciated the emphasis on women being independent, and I enjoyed the romantic chemistry.
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Good leads, mature vibes - The bare minimum that is so often lacking
OVERALLThis 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.
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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 adject 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 ensemble 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. 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 so good in this drama. The style suits her and the low-key makeup as well. I'll definitely keep an eye out for her next project, especially if it is a historical drama.
While the ML is handsome in costume and the fight scenes are quite well done, his performance did feels oddly detached at times. Especially his line delivery. All the actors are dubbed but his dialogue just feels too measured and a little flat. It is as if the lines are recorded in a vacuum. Not a huge black mark but a bit odd when almost every other aspect of the series is solid.
I started with low expectations and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this show. It is tropey and a bit cheesy, but it works likes a treat. That’s entertainment!
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Nothing special, no memorable quotes and yet... enjoyable and refreshing
If you skip this drama, you won't lose anything in your life. But if you need something to watch to relax, something that won't irritate you, something still sufficiently interesting that won't make you drop it, well, this drama is perfect for you.The writer of the synopsis didn't make justice to introduce us to the plot, so, I'll repair it. This is a (not particularly defined) period ensemble drama which rotates around a young couple with their own struggles. FL is struggling to keep what remained of her family afloat, after the seizure of assets and exile of male members from the capital. Her struggle is a struggle of female empowerment. ML is a side member of the imperial family who struggles to figure out complicated relations in his own family. Favoured by his uncle, a wicked emperor who can't stand anyone who contradicts him, he is appointed the Commander of the Secret Bureau, a ruthless Agency that responds only to him with the power to take down any other force (including nobles, royals etc) aspiring to the power. The struggles of these two persons entagle in interesting way and they fall for each other.
Although it lacks in memorable quotes and has many elements of unlikeliness, the plot is solidly based on a well-written dialogues, a rarity in C-dramaworld. Tbh, they are not brilliant, but they abound in details, double meanings, premonitions/hints that make the story logical in cause-effect sequence. What enhance to make the story believable is a genuine romance between the main leads, displayed originally for this type of drama: calm discussions to overcome misunderstandings, no screeming or scheming, no knives, poisons or bloodspitting. If you can pass over the fact that the ML is a super-fighter and the FL a business genius, for the rest, the two are totally normal people. The scenes engaging other people, and they are many, are also well developed, at least in the 4/5 of episodes. These are the reason I've highly rated "the story" - I'd like to encourage the two scriptwriters to follow this path in the future (and to forget completely the mess they've combined with TTEOM). But I also couldn't rate more, because they've also comitted huge mistakes (due to the original novel, I suppose), such as... introducing a new villain in last 5 eps. The audience "likes" villains, too: we want to know what made them villains, we like to grow up some (negative) affection to the villains, too.
Generally speaking, all the actors delievered the story, but not on the same level. Who delievered better were support characters: Hai Yi Tian as that sick-in-his-head emperor, Lu Yu Xiao as a traumatised PTSP girl (this actress really knows her job!) in process of healing, Myolie Wu as Madam Xia. The leads were good in delivering their main traits (described above: fighter-businesswoman), but nothing more than that.
Direction: How did Chu Yui Bun restrain himself from all his "weird experiments" with lights, filters, camera spinning... is a mystery. I suppose, his assistants constantly kept an eye on him. Untill the last minute in post-production. They've thought they've wrapped it all and left him alone. Being unwatched, he simply decided to add some CGI dolphins in that sort of homage to the Titanic. Both dolphins and Titanic-homage were wrong ideas, assistants, please,, don't leave him unchecked ever more.
Music was nothing special, the reason of high rating is: it's fine because it wasn't invasive.
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1Family is the essence.
Blossoms in adversity, this drama was aptly named.The main theme and plot line that carried us through all 40 episodes of this drama was well done. Watching the Hua family's fall from grace and their eventual comeback through hardwork, preseverance, trust was so uplifting. The relationships between the women of the Hua household and how they worked together was the best part of the series and that is truly the main essence of the drama. This whole aspect was well done, so I rate the drama highly for that mainly.
In terms of the romance, the love between Hua Zhi and YanXi was the healthy and romantic type. Although I didn’t really feel amazing chemistry between the actors, the romance between the characters was great to witness. I loved how they both started out as friends and their relationship grew deeper. It was beautiful to see them be each other's confidants, with HZ feeling safest talking with YX and seeking his opinions on things she wanted to do, especially early on in their relationship.
My main disappointment with the drama is specifically the main lead, Yanxi's, attitude(?). To put it short, he did not stand on business. Despite how physically strong he was and how many times he protected HZ and her family, his character/state of mind/personality as his own person just fell so flat. In terms of personality, I even preferred the Second Male Lead's attitude and how he carried himself. YX acted in ways that went against his own beliefs/desires/morals all because the Emperor ordered it and that was dissapointing. He came across as a weak willed man and that is definitely not a trait I'd like to see from a ML, especially when you compare with the FL who is courageous enough to speak out when she sees something wrong and SML who spoke out honestly without fear for the consequences. This also feeds into why I felt a bit dissatisfied with how the end to all the adversity played out, I wish it was more directly through the hands of the main leads' actions than that of third parties. The fact that at the end of the drama I was rooting for one of the villains to accomplish their revenge plot and was pissed at our main leads for trying to stop them was a new feeling I experienced watching a drama, lmao.
Overall, the main story line being the rise of Hua family was enjoyable and very well done, there are also so many lovable side characters and romantic story lines (ShaoYao x Shen Huan, Uncle Pingyang x Aunt Yu Niang, Empress Dowager x Grandma iykyk lol, etc) that made this very enjoyable, so I still had a good time watching this drama.
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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.
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arrogant FL
show is really great until episode 37. her insolence is what cause the emperor to send a decree to forbid her from reclaiming her family up north. her loud mouth got her family fortune donated. it's all her fault.I'm for strong female lead but this is just too much. Chinese is coming out with a bunch of these shows for pander to this kind of audiences.
historically this type female dominance doesn't exist in ancient China and people are just wishing for more FL but this is too much.
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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....
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