This post includes a brief plot summary and thoughts about the 2024 Chinese drama “Blossom”. Beware of mild spoilers.
“Blossom” (2024) is a rebirth drama directed by Zeng Qing Jie, starring Meng Ziyi as Dou Zhao, a determined woman, and Li Yunrui as Song Mo, a man with a complex past.
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Short Review: “Blossom” (2024) is a solid Chinese drama. Although there is nothing “original” about the plot, the story was beautifully translated onto the screen. The show combines engaging storytelling with stunning visuals and complex characters.
Continue reading for a more in-depth review.
The story of “Blossom” is about a woman who gets a second chance in life after being brutally murdered.
Our protagonist, Dou Zhao, is the neglected daughter of the Dou family and the Marchioness of Ji Ning. After finding out that her sleazy husband, Wei Ting Yu, is cheating on her with her half-sister, Dou Ming, she flees off of her estate.
While running away from home, Dou Zhao crosses paths with Song Mo, an infamous general who is at the moment leading a rebellion. Song Mo is a man driven by revenge; his sole purpose is to seek the real culprits behind his uncle’s death, Duke of Ding (Jiang Mei Sun). However, Song Mo is ultimately betrayed by the people who he thought were helping him.
A masked man shoots an arrow, killing both Song Mo and Dou Zhao. The impact pushes our leads into a mysterious cave where they are reborn. Dou Zhao awakens in her young self, armed with memories of her past life. This time, she wants to rewrite fate and take agency over her life. Meanwhile, Song Mo also makes it, but he has no recollection of what happened.
As adults, our leads cross paths once more, and together they slowly unravel dark secrets from their family history. Not only that, but they also become inadvertently involved in a complex web of political schemes.
At its core, “Blossom” is about redemption, control, and power.
Our female lead, Dou Zhao, is trying to seek redemption by not repeating the same mistakes from the past. Before her rebirth, Dou Zhao’s life was essentially determined by others and their personal interests.
Given a second chance in life, Dou Zhao wants to call her own shots. In order to do that, Dou Zhao works hard to build her financial independence and a strong social network so she doesn’t need to rely on anyone to have a good life.
Song Mo is a man who is desperately trying to seek revenge for his uncle’s wrongful death. Before his rebirth, Song Mo’s biggest regret in life was not being able to clear Duke Ding’s name. Ironically, it was that same obsession that led him into a wrongful path, trusting the wrong people.
The themes of redemption, control, and power are recurrent throughout the narrative and every other character, beyond our leads.
For instance, Dou Zhao’s father, Dou Shi Ying, is a man who has committed a lot of mistakes, but eventually he tries to redeem himself. There are many reasons why Dou Zhao despises her father. First, there is the affair that drove her mother, Zhao Gu Qiu, to commit suicide. Second, Shi Ying never protected his daughter against her wicked stepmother. Basically, he is an expert in turning “a blind eye” to things.
Then there are the hungry power people in this tale, Dou Ming and Prince Qing. The first one, Dou Ming, is a man who wants more power and uses his humble background as an excuse to justify his morally questionable actions. Then, there is Prince Qing, an entitled brat who thinks the world owes him the crown prince title, just because of whatever reason…
Personally, I think the visual aesthetics of “Blossom” set it apart from other typical historical dramas.
Personally, I loved the cinematography of the show. Everything from the color palettes used to the sleek fight scenes shows that nothing on “Blossom” is accidental.
From my understanding, “Blossom” wasn’t a big-budget production. One of the telltale signs is the cast; Li Yunrui and Meng Ziyi were not big stars before the show, but I think that is going to change soon. Then, the sets feel “smaller”, the shots are more focused on the actors, and there are very few to no panoramic shots.
However, none of the above matters because the outcome was pretty outstanding. Therefore, kudos to the director, Zeng Qing Jie, for coming up with an outstanding “end result” while working with “less”.
What I appreciate about “Blossom” is the exploration of ethically grey areas and characters.
Let’s take our girl, Dou Zhao, as our first example. Although she is a virtuous woman most of the time, in difficult situations, Dou Zhao will not hesitate to use ruthless manipulation to make her targets turn into allies. That itself is a very grey area because it blurs the lines between right and wrong.
Then, we have Song Mo, who can be ruthless when he wants to. Remember when he invaded Dou Zhao’s estate? The initial plan was to kill everyone, as a last resort, so his clan could hide quietly from the emperor’s men. Overall, Song Mo is a good man, but just like Dou Zhao, in extreme situations, he will reveal a darker side of his nature.
The exploration of morally grey characters in “Blossom” extends to the supporting characters too. For instance, Dou Zhao’s stepmother, Wang Ying Xue, is undoubtedly despicable, but she also has a softer side, often shown when doting on her daughter, Dou Ming.
Both Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui were able to deliver solid performances.
Meng Ziyi’s portrayal of Dou Zhao was just right; she didn’t make her an overly annoying “goody two shoes”. Meanwhile, Li Yunrui is a young actor who can convey deep emotions with subtle expressions and body movement.
This take might be a bit different from the popular opinion, but I thought Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui were great in their respective roles, but not together.
In my opinion, when these two get together, they give off more “brother and sister vibes” than a “lovers vibe”. Therefore, at least for me, the romance part was a bit lacking in “Blossom”. The chemistry was either non-existent or very weak.
Final Thoughts
The story of “Blossom” and its characters challenges the audience to question traditional notions of good versus evil. Human nature is complex. Hardship and trauma can shape actions, and redemption is not an easy path.
Unlike many Chinese dramas, the romance between our leads is not derived from love at first sight but rather mutual respect. Personally, I thought it was refreshing to see two leads who admire each other first and then gradually fall in love with each other.
Overall, “Blossom” is a noteworthy watch. The show manages to balance an intricate plot with an adequate pace. Viewers will be able to remain invested without feeling overwhelmed by subplots.
Final Rating: 
+ (Good, Almost “Very Good”)
