Blossom Review

Blossom (九重紫) is not really a drama that would make you sit up and take notice given that the leads are not first tier celebrities. But it has become a surprise hit and has been enjoying generally positive reviews from Chinese drama fans. As such, I too decided I should jump on the bandwagon and give this drama a go. And I have to say that it is indeed a good production with a hook at the start. Below is my review of Blossom with all the relevant details.

My rating: 8/10
Episodes: 34
Type: Historical Romance, Revenge
Aired: December 2024
Images credit: Douban Movie

The Cast Of Blossom

• Meng Zi Yi as Dou Zhao / Shou Gu
• Li Yun Rui as Song Mo / Yan Tang
• Snow Kong Xue Er as Miao An Su
• Xia Zhi Guang as Yuan Tong / Ji Yong
• Alina Zhang as Wang Ying Xue
• Ji Chen Mu as Dou Shi Ying
• Li Bai Hui as Dou Ming
• Wang Tong Hui as Dou Shi Shu
• Mu Li Yan as Old Madame Cui
• Liu Mei Tong as Zhao Zhang Ru
• Li Xin Ze as Wei Ting Yu
• Yan An as Song Han / Mu Yu
• Wang Jiu Sheng as Song Yi Chun
• Zhang Cheng He as Jiang Mei Sun
• Quan Yi Lun as Wu Shan
• Tan Kai as Emperor
• Yumiko Cheng as Empress Wan
• Ye Zu Xin as Crown Prince
• Dong Zi Fan as Prince Qing
• Du Yi Heng as Eunuch Wang
• Fu Wei Lun as Gu Yu

Main Characters

Dou Zhao / Shou Gu

Dou Zhao is the eldest daughter of a scholar and low ranked official. She grew up in her paternal grandmother’s home after the death of her mother. Dou Zhao is a very intelligent and astute young lady. She also has strong business acumen and plenty of guts when faced with danger. Su Lan and Su Xin are her bodyguards while Chen Qu Shui is her advisor.

Song Mo / Yan Tang

Song Mo is a general who grew up in his maternal uncle’s army camp as he couldn’t get along with his father. Hence, he has a close bond with his uncle instead. Song Mo is a capable general and commander. He has strong martial arts skills and great courage. Lu Ming and Lu Zheng are his most loyal assistants while Chen Jia is his subordinate in the Imperial Guards.

Supporting Characters

Miao An Su

An Su is Dou Zhao’s best friend. They grew up together and are like sisters to each other. An Su comes from a merchant family and they live nearby Dou Zhao’s grandmother’s estate.

Yuan Tong / Ji Yong

Ji Yong is a rmonk in Dou Zhao’s dream but they become good friends in real life. They have known each other since young. Ji Yong was born emotionally detached and was sent to a temple to study when he was a boy. He is a man with foresight and thus, is a patient and great strategist.

Wang Ying Xue

Wang Ying Xue is Dou Zhao’s stepmother. She is Dou Zhao’s mother’s sworn sister but betrayed her to hook up with her husband and marry into the Dou family. Wang Xing Yue is a selfish and conniving woman who would step on others to achieve her aim.

Dou Shi Ying

Dou Shi Ying is Dou Zhao’s father. He is a scholar but a weak man with no mind of his own. Although Dou Shi Ying is a good man at heart and loves Dou Zhao, he has a habit of listening to his elder brother and deferring to him.

Dou Ming

Dou Ming is Dou Zhao’s stepsister. She is Wang Ying Xue’s daughter and is a timid young woman who is obedient to her mother’s wishes. Her mother has high hopes for her and wants her to marry into a powerful family with connections.

Dou Shi Shu

Dou Shi Shu is Dou Zhao’s fifth uncle. He controls the family and all the important decisions affecting the Dous. He is a mid-ranking government official with an ambition to climb up the ranks to be the Grand Secretary. Dou Shi Shu is a ruthless and unscrupulous operator behind the scenes.

Old Madame Cui

Old Madame Cui is Dou Zhao’s maternal grandmother. She is estranged from the Dou family and her sons, especially Dou Shi Shu, after she left her husband who wasn’t a good man. She comes from an old noble family who had contributed to the state and hence, commands respect. Old Madam Cui has a special fondness for Dou Zhao.

Zhao Zhang Ru

Zhang Ru is Dou Zhao’s cousin sister on her mother’s side. They are close to each other. Zhang Ru is a straightforward and expressive woman who finds it hard to get a suitable husband.

Wei Ting Yu

Wei Ting Yu is a marquis who is living off old money that is fast depleting. He has no interest to be an official but likes to spend his time painting and being idle. He is idealistic and thinks being an official is beneath him with his family’s status. His parents have died and his sister, Madam Liu, is the one running his household. Madam Liu is a duke’s concubine. She is a greedy and hardhearted woman.

Song Han / Mu Yu

Song Han is Song Mo’s younger brother. He looks up to his brother and they share a warm relationship although Song Mo is rarely home. He appears timid and harmless and all he seems to want is a harmonious family.

Song Yi Chun

Song Yi Chun is the Duke of Ying and Song Mo and Song Han’s father. He is a petty and spiteful man who hates his own eldest son and has an axe to grind with his wife’s brother.

Jiang Mei Sun

Jiang Mei Sun is the Duke of Ding. He is the commander of an army that is based at the border. He is also Song Mo’s beloved maternal uncle. The Duke of Ding is a respected and powerful great general. He is assisted by Yan Chao Qing.

Wu Shan

Wu Shan is the grandson of Grand Secretary Wu. He is a principled gentleman who could see Dou Zhao’s strengths and has great admiration for her.

Emperor

The Emperor is a troubled ruler who is forced to take action that goes against his will in order to maintain stability and the balance of power in the royal court. He and the Duke of Ding were close friends when they were young.

Empress Wan

Empress Wan is a low profile empress but will do things behind the scenes to further her own interests. Prince Qing is her biological son.

Crown Prince

The Crown Prince is a benevolent man who is not into schemings and underhanded tactics to gain an upper hand.

Prince Qing

Prince Qing is an ambitious price who wants to steal the Crown Prince’s position and replace him as the heir.

Eunuch Wang

Eunuch Wang is one of the most senior eunuchs in the palace.

Gu Yu

Gu Yu is Song M’s good friend. He is also a count and Empress Wan’s nephew.

Synopsis

Dou Zhao was married to a marquis who betrayed her with her stepsister. She was also poisoned and chose to leave him to return to her hometown. On the way home, she ran into Song Mo, a feared general and also a rebel who wanted revenge against those who had killed his uncle. He colluded with Prince Qing and helped him to get the throne in his quest for revenge but realized that he had made a mistake. Both Song Mo and Dou Zhao were subsequently killed as they tried to escape from Prince Qing’s men.

However, Dou Zhao awakens after getting shot and is told that she has just fallen asleep. She is now back to her childhood just prior to her mother’s death. With clues to future happenings that she had experienced through her dream, she tries to avoid the same mistakes and change the course of pivotal events. She has to rely on her wits to counter her stepmother’s and uncle’s maneuverings to sacrifice her life for their ambition and personal gain.

At the same time, Dou Zhao runs into Song Mo again after his uncle was killed and deemed a traitor. Given her hindsight, she tries to steer him away from making the same mistakes. Together, they try to unearth his uncle’s real killer as their enemies plot behind the scenes.

Blossom Ending & Recap (Spoilers Alert!)

Blossom has a happy ending. The rebellion started by Prince Qing and Empress Wan fail with the timely arrival of reinforcements led by the Crown Prince. Ji Yong also betrays Prince Qing to hasten the prince’s downfall. He was pretending to be on Prince Qing’s side all along on the Emperor’s orders. After the Emperor found out that the Duke Of Ding was killed by Prince Qing, Ji Yong was tasked to lure the prince to rebel and flush out all his supporters to completely eradicate the criminal network.

Hence, Song Mo gets his revenge. He asks for Prince Qing to be incarcerated and never see the light of day rather than be executed. He also wants the Emperor to relieve him of his titles and duties as he wants to live for himself for a change with the short time that he has left. The Emperor gives Song Mo a lifesaving antidote instead. It is an antidote that is meant for the Emperor to prolong his own fragile life but he gives it up for Song Mo as he feels that he doesn’t have long to live and Song Mo is needed to assist the Crown Prince in the future.

The Emperor also clears Duke of Ding and his family of all crimes. He takes the blame for mistakes made and sacrificing justice to protect the royal family’s reputation earlier. Prince Qing’s cronies were executed. The Emperor is willing to spare Empress Wan’s life but she asks for death instead. Song Han, who is Prince Qing’s supporter, is betrayed by An Su. She stabs him herself as he is being surrounded by soldiers. She is unable to forgive him for killing her brother as he lays dying on the ground.

5 Years Later

The Crown Prince ascends the throne a year later. Ji Yong is promoted to be the Grand Secretary. Wu Shan returns to the capital and becomes the Assistant Minister of Works. The new Emperor institutes reforms and returns land to the people.

5 years later, Ji Yong retires and returns to spiritual teachings. He has gotten bored of being a Grand Secretary and it is not what he has envisioned. Chen Jia and Zhang Ru are now married. Song Mo and Dou Zhao have a little daughter who is highly energetic and mischievous. An Su is besieged by prospective suitors but she isn’t interested. Chen Qu Shui becomes a teacher to Dou Zhao’s daughter and other kids of the clan.

Old Madame Cui is always traveling and has just returned from yet another trip. Dou Zhao’s father is now the new Emperor’s assistant in compiling scriptures and histories. He has no interest to remarry at his age and is still thinking of Dou Zhao’s mother.

The drama ends with Song Mo and Dou Zhao finally having some private time together on a date in the mountains with their daughter starting school. Her wish is for them to remain loving and be together forever. In the epilogue, their daughter is seen with the same mysterious man that had given Dou Zhao guidance in the past with regards to what is written in the book she had obtained in her dream. He now offers the little girl 4 books with 4 different endings to the story.

When Did The Couple Get Together?

Song Mo is worried when Dou Zhao is forced to marry Wei Ting Yu by her family. He pleads with the Emperor to stop the marriage and manages to obtain a token from Princess Shude that allows Dou Zhao to decide on her own marriage in Episode 16. He offers to marry Dou Zhao in Episode 17 after her marriage to Wei Ting Yu didn’t proceed as planned since Dou Ming took her place. But she turns him down and claims that she doesn’t love him. He knows she is lying about her feelings though which forces her to tell him about her dream of them being shot and dying.

However, Song Mo convinces Dou Zhao that it is just a dream and asks her to reconsider. She confesses her feelings to him in Episode 18 after she mistakenly thought she had lost him in a fire. They become a couple and got married in Episode 19. Dou Zhao becomes pregnant in Episode 29.

Is There Any Breakup And Love Triangle?

There is no breakup after Dou Zhao and Song Mo got together. Although Song Mo was poisoned by his own father and didn’t have long to live at one point, Dou Zhao refuses to give up on him. She finds out something is wrong with her husband in Episode 26. While Song Mo tries to hide it from her and considers her future, she convinces him that they should face it together.

There is also no love triangle although Dou Zhao is close to Ji Yong. They are confidantes and soulmates rather than lovers.

Wu Shan also has great interest in Dou Zhao and wants to formally propose to her in Episode 7. But she turns him down and claims that she doesn’t like to be trapped by marriage. In Episode 14, he is set up by Dou Zhao’s uncle who is aiming to get Wu Shan’s grandfather replaced as the Grand Secretary. Wu Shan walks into a trap when he goes to save Dou Zhao who is being punished by her uncle. He is then accused of seducing Dou Zhao and engaging in factionalism. Through Song Mo’s intervention, the Emperor closes Wu Shan’s case but he is then sent to oversee a construction project away from the capital.

Wu Shan has no regrets helping Dou Zhao and they remain as friends. He also becomes more responsible and mature through the experience.

What Happens To Dou Ming & Her Mother?

Wang Ying Xue can’t wait to get Dou Zhao married off to Wei Ting Yu as Dou Zhao’s presence in the Dou household would be a threat to her. Furthermore, the Wei family is actually running out of money although they are nobles. Wei Ting Yu is an idler and an idealist who only loves painting and having a good time. Hence, his sister is eager to have him marry Dou Zhao who is rich and has plenty of dowry.

However, Wei Ting Yu ends up falling for Dou Ming and pursues her in Episode 15. They acknowledge their feelings for each other and make a vow to be together in Episode 16. When Dou Ming’s mother forbids her from marrying Wei Ting Yu, Dou Ming tries to commit suicide. This forces Wang Ying Xue to relent and scheme to have Dou Ming take Dou Zhao’s place on the wedding day. Thus, Dou Ming ends up marrying Wei Ting Yu.

The secret exchange angers Wei Ting Yu’s sister who then abuses Dou Ming and causes her to miscarry in Episode 21. Dou Ming is killed by bandits in Episode 23. The bandits have made a deal with Wang Ying Xue to rob Dou Zhao’s residence but are angered when the robbery goes awry. Hence, they think they have been tricked by Wang Ying Xue. Wang Ying Xue’s crime is exposed by her servant who witnesses her silencing another to cover up her association with the bandits. She goes crazy after learning her daughter’s death and lives a life of prayers thereafter.

Wei Ting Yu is demoted to be a commoner. He becomes depressed with Dou Ming’s death and keeps pining for her.

Why Song Yi Chun Hates His Own Son

In Episode 24, it is revealed that Song Yi Chun has a concubine, Shu Yao, that he has kept hidden for years. She was a prisoner as her family was condemned as embezzlers. She is also Song Han’s biological mother. In Episode 25, Song Yi Chun relates to Song Han that he met Shu Yao when he was stationed in her hometown and they fell in love. Shu Yao’s father was the prefect of Futing then. But the Duke of Ding raided Shu Yao’s family for embezzlement and she ended up as a palace prisoner as a result.

Hence, Song Yi Chun hates the Duke of Ding. By a stroke of fate, the Emperor decreed him to marry Duke of DIng’s sister or Song Mo’s mother. He pretends to be a good husband but has been having a secret affair with Shu Yao all along who then gave birth to Song Han. At the same time, Song Mo’s mother prematurely gave birth as well. Song Yi Chun secretly swapped Song Han with the premature baby so he could be a legitimate son.

As Song Mo and Dou Zhao investigate the past, they learn that his mother had actually given birth to a girl. She died soon after as she was born premature. Song Yi Chun is then stripped of his position and jailed for his crimes. He refuses to tell Song Mo who is his backer as only a powerful person could have released Shu Yao from the palace prison. Song Yi Chun dies in prison as his backer cuts him loose and wants him to be silenced.

Shu Yao commits suicide after Song Han refused to acknowledge her as his mother. He blames her for causing upheaval in his life and for turning him into an illegitimate son.

Who Killed Song Mo’s Mother?

Song Mo’s mother passes away in Episode 12. After Song Yi Chun’s crime and his secret affair with Shu Yao were exposed, Song Mo forces Song Han to reveal what happened to his mother in Episode 26. Song Han has to admit that he unknowingly fed her poisoned medicine given by their father. He only learned then that his biological mother is Shu Yao.

In Episode 30, Song Mo and Dou Zhao learn from the Crown Prince and his wife that the Emperor had no intention of killing the Duke of Ding. The Emperor’s plan was to accuse Song Mo’s uncle of treachery and then have the Crown Prince plead for him. The intention was merely to make the Duke of Ding feel obligated to support the Crown Prince when he ascends the throne so that the latter could rule stably and the country remains safe. But someone took advantage of the situation and killed the duke when he was being escorted to the capital. Song Mo surmises that the ultimate rebel behind the scenes is Empress Wan.

In Episode 31, Song Mo’s mother’s ex-servant recalls overhearing Song Han and his father’s conversation after killing Song Mo’s mother. Song Mo’s mother had received a letter from the Duke of Ding that points to the corruption of high ranking officials including her own husband and Dou Shi Shu. That is why the Duke of Ding is killed by Prince Qing as he was a threat to the whole rebel network. Before Song Mo’s mother died, she had asked the servant to hide the letter. The servant now finds the letter and hands it over to Song Mo.

Song Han’s Fate

Song Han becomes paranoid and obsessed with gaining power after his parents’ death. He is being looked down upon for being an illegitimate son overnight. So, he pledges loyalty to Prince Qing in Episode 27 to gain power. When he comes up tops in the imperial exam, he asks the Emperor to grant him a favor to marry a princess in Episode 28. However, the Emperor is unwilling to let him marry his own daughter. Hence, he bestows a princess title on An Su and decrees them to marry instead. As An Su has developed feelings for Song Han and vice-versa, they got married in Episode 28.

An Su thought she could trust Song Han and he will not harm those closest to her. But Song Han kills her brother in Episode 29 after he saw her brother bullying her for money. An Su learns about it in Episode 33 from a witness. She then betrays Song Han and helps Dou Zhao to send message to get reinforcements from outside the capital to stop the rebels. After the rebellion failed, An Su is waiting for him while he is running away. She stabs him and walks away as he lays dying on the ground.

Dou Shi Shu’s Fate

In Episode 15, we learn that Dou Zhao’s uncle and the Emperor’s sister, Princess Shude, know each other from the past. In Episode 22, it is revealed that he is part of the group aligned with the rebels. The members include Song Yi Chun, Eunuch Wang Ge, and Empress Wan’s representative/servant. Eunuch Wang Ge was the one who killed Dou Zhao and Song Mo at the start and he works for Empress Wan. Dou Zhao notices the same tattoo on his hand in Episode 30.

We are told in Episode 27 that Dou Shi Shu climbed up the ranks with Princess Shude’s help in return for his writings which consoled her when her husband passed away. He tells her that he could give her anything she desires once he reaches the pinnacle of power. Dou Zhao’s father severs ties with him in Episode 32 after learning that he has been used as a pawn by his own brother. He finally stands up for justice to support Song Mo.

As the situation escalates, Empress Wan sacrifices Dou Shi Shu as advised by the latter’s rival. Dou Shi Shu is forced to take the blame for creating factionalism with the intention to rebel. As he knows he will be sacrificed, he sends evidence of his own crime in his brother’s name to the court and pushes Dou Shi Ying to be seen as righteous and in the Crown Prince’s camp. This will ensure the Dou family will stand to gain no matter what happens. Dou Shi Shu dies from the arrows being shot when soldiers are sent to arrest him. Princess Shude follows his last advice to return to her fief after his death to avoid the danger of fighting with Empress Wan.

Blossom Review – Addictive

Blossom is a pretty addictive story to me. This is largely due to the fast pacing and I’m glad that the producers didn’t try to overstretch this into a 40-episode drama. Like The Double, it has a captivating start and this immediately gets you hooked. It heightens the anticipation of what is to come and the intrigue of what could change in the protagonists’ second chance at life. Basically, it will seem similar to The Princess Royal and Story Of Kunning Palace in this aspect with the female lead having insights of the future gained from her past life.

However, just like most Chinese dramas of this genre, this “past life” is never really explored and explained in detail to the viewers due to the strict local censorship. So, in Blossom this is brushed off as the female lead’s dream at the beginning. You don’t get clear answers in that sense but on the flip side, it doesn’t really matter either because the screenwriter has successfully swayed the viewers’ attention to the female lead’s present life. Hence, the technicalities of her dream or past life become a mere side dish as the story progresses and even entirely forgotten further down the road.

There are a few subplots to the story which keeps the pacing consistent at a fairly quick pace. This may or may not appeal to you and some might find it boring as the drama enters the second half as a result.

Subplots Dominate

Blossom is a story that is strung together by a few subplots. It has a very exciting start that details the male protagonist’s relationship with his uncle and the female protagonists’s situation with her family. The first 7 to 8 episodes lay the foundation to the story and why the male lead’s quest for revenge is understandable and expected. Then the subplots start to emerge such as the female lead’s sister’s relationship and stepmother’s long-awaited karma.

In a way, the subplots are tied to the female lead’s dream and her need to change the undesirable outcomes. But at the same time, it would seem like a detour from the overarching plot of revenge and unearthing the actual villain who killed the male lead’s uncle. By the time we reached the last quarter of Blossom, there is no strong foundation to the motivations of the ultimate villain who rarely appears earlier. We know why a few of them rebel but they will appear as typical two-dimensional villains due to the short build-up of their stories.

However, the drama’s weakness is also its strength to me. This is because as the story moves from one subplot to another, the pacing is quick and the chapters get wrapped up in a satisfactory way before boredom sets in. The justice that you are waiting for for certain characters will happen and hence, there is satisfaction before the focus shifts. This satisfaction extends to the main couple’s relationship which is fulfilling to watch.

Fulfilling Romance (Spoilers Alert!)

Unlike many other dramas, the main couple’s relationship in Blossom can be said to be smooth-sailing. You would expect a typical break up at one point which is the usual path that most stories of this genre would take. The Story Of Pearl Girl is a case in point whereby I’m-breaking-up-with-you-for-your-own-good mantra is present. But Blossom stays clear of that cliche. If it has gone down that familiar route, their romance wouldn’t have been as fulfilling.

The couple discuss things together and share the same principles and goals. They are also each other’s pillar of support. Their time together is not always sweet and there are heartbreaking moments. But they communicate well to keep their relationship strong. Hence, viewers will be able to feel their love for each other. A break up would just mar the enjoyment that viewers might have for this couple.

Having said that though, romance is just a small part of the overall story. The jump from confession to marriage is super quick to move the plot along. Basically, there is little time-wasting in the drama. The romance is not dragged out unnecessarily to hinder plot development. Thus, don’t expect this to be a pure romance drama although the leads’ love story is an enjoyable one.

Acting & Chemistry

Li Yun Rui is not particularly well-known as he has largely been playing supporting roles until recently. He has been in a few popular dramas including Love Like The Galaxy but his roles are minor. I finally saw him in a lead role in Go Back Lover just a few months ago. His acting is more polished in Blossom compared to Go Back Lover to me. He immediately makes you sit up and take notice as a white-haired general in the first episode and I think he handled his role well overall.

Perhaps Meng Zi Yi helped in making him lived his character and brought out the best in him as her co-star. She was natural in her role as Dou Zhao with her beauty. Dou Zhao is a strong and domineering character but Meng Zi Yi managed to make her very likable to the viewers with her charm and grace on-screen.

Together, the leads managed to make this work with great chemistry between them. They looked compatible as a couple and their interactions were sweet to watch. I would say that their chemistry was better than average and for a revenge drama, it is more than enough for it to be enjoyable.

My Verdict – One Of The Better Ones

Personally, I think Blossom is one of the better Chinese dramas of late. At the very least, it doesn’t drag and the pacing is quick. It is a revenge drama at its core but without the long-winded strategies and palace politics. Hence, if you want to watch detailed plots and counterplots between the good and the bad guys like Joy Of Life, this is not it. Blossom is about making different choices and working towards better outcomes based on hindsight from a dream that the female lead had on her future life. Revenge is interwoven into the plot from the start.

What makes it addictive is the way the story is told. It moves smoothly from one subplot to another but still connected to the overarching revenge plot. Some characters will make your blood boil such as the female lead’s stepmother and you will be drawn to their shenanigans. With the way the story is structured, you don’t have to wait until the last episode to see them getting their just desserts. Thus, there is satisfaction along the way as these characters meet their fate which I think is partly why the drama feels engaging.

For this review of Blossom, I would give it a score of 8/10. I would recommend a watch for this one for the storytelling. The concept and plot aren’t new but the directing, story structure and the leads combine to make it into an engrossing drama overall.

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