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This review may contain spoilers
Extraordinary photography, a deep story.
I started watching The Forbidden Flower because of the mixed opinions I'd read about it. Some people said it wasn't a particularly deep drama, that the characters were flat, but that the cinematography was stunning. And I have to say, the cinematography, the use of colors, the framing, and the way light and shadows are used... it's a work of art.
As for the story itself, I actually think it's very solid. There isn't a clear-cut "good" or "bad" character; instead, everyone is morally nuanced and flawed in their own way. What I appreciated most about the majority of the characters is that, when faced with hardship or someone who is suffering, they put aside their disagreements and stand by that person. In this case, that person is He Ran.
At first, I couldn't stand He Ran's mother. I thought she was overly controlling and overprotective of her daughter. But as the story progressed, I realized there were much deeper reasons behind her behavior. She had already lost her husband to the very same illness that now threatens her daughter. It's only natural that she wants to protect the precious child she brought into the world—the living reminder of the love she shared with her late husband. And it is totally legit that she let herself go, with eating and drinking, that's a big weight on her heart! And it is fair to open to new relationships, as well.
I also loved Han Yu and her uncle. As much as Han Yu loved and cared about He Ran, she let her go to Xiao Han because she knew it was what He Ran truly wanted: to experience her first—and perhaps last—great love. The line that stayed with me the most was something He Ran's uncle said, along the lines of, "I never said what you were doing was wrong."
I can also understand He Ran's decision not to tell Xiao Han about her illness. She wanted to experience a carefree kind of love, free from pity or the weight of her condition. But, as we know, life had other plans for her.
The only character who left me a little conflicted was Xiao Han. He does his job as a "lover," but he often seemed lost, as if he had no real purpose in life—until he found one in He Ran. We don't learn much about his past, but I think that was probably a deliberate choice by the writers. The drama's message is to live in the present instead of dwelling on the past, something we also see reflected in He Ran's bright, curious, bubbly personality.
Also loved the music!
As for the story itself, I actually think it's very solid. There isn't a clear-cut "good" or "bad" character; instead, everyone is morally nuanced and flawed in their own way. What I appreciated most about the majority of the characters is that, when faced with hardship or someone who is suffering, they put aside their disagreements and stand by that person. In this case, that person is He Ran.
At first, I couldn't stand He Ran's mother. I thought she was overly controlling and overprotective of her daughter. But as the story progressed, I realized there were much deeper reasons behind her behavior. She had already lost her husband to the very same illness that now threatens her daughter. It's only natural that she wants to protect the precious child she brought into the world—the living reminder of the love she shared with her late husband. And it is totally legit that she let herself go, with eating and drinking, that's a big weight on her heart! And it is fair to open to new relationships, as well.
I also loved Han Yu and her uncle. As much as Han Yu loved and cared about He Ran, she let her go to Xiao Han because she knew it was what He Ran truly wanted: to experience her first—and perhaps last—great love. The line that stayed with me the most was something He Ran's uncle said, along the lines of, "I never said what you were doing was wrong."
I can also understand He Ran's decision not to tell Xiao Han about her illness. She wanted to experience a carefree kind of love, free from pity or the weight of her condition. But, as we know, life had other plans for her.
The only character who left me a little conflicted was Xiao Han. He does his job as a "lover," but he often seemed lost, as if he had no real purpose in life—until he found one in He Ran. We don't learn much about his past, but I think that was probably a deliberate choice by the writers. The drama's message is to live in the present instead of dwelling on the past, something we also see reflected in He Ran's bright, curious, bubbly personality.
Also loved the music!
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