The Forbidden Flower Review

The Forbidden Flower (夏花) seems like a very promising drama from the positive reviews and high ratings. From the various clips, it appears to be a very steamy kind of romance. This will inevitably attract eyeballs. So, I have to admit that that is one of the reasons which pushed me to give this a try. The other is, of course, Jerry Yan. It has been quite some time since he appeared in a drama and he will naturally command a certain level of interest from those who follow Chinese entertainment. But is this production really worth watching? Follow The Forbidden Flower review below for my thoughts.

My rating: 7.5/10
Episodes: 24
Type: Romance, Melodrama
Aired: February 2023
Images Credit: Douban Movie

The Cast Of The Forbidden Flower

• Jerry Yan as Xiao Han
• Xu Ruo Han as He Ran
• Kido Ma Si Chao as Han Yu
• Wu Ya Heng as Pang Zi / Fatty Pang
• Huang Yi as Chou Jia Rong
• Wu Jing as He Ran’s nanny
• Candy Yang Kai Di as A Man
• Tang Zeng as Han Yu’s uncle / Uncle Han
• Ella Liu Wei Xi as Xiao Tong
• Yu Xiang as Zhang Yuan Qi
• Zhao Yuan Yuan as Qin Zao

Main Characters

Xiao Han

Xiao Han is a talented horticulturist but keeps a low profile. He is a very aloof man who doesn’t like opening up to others and has a secretive past. He is also good-looking and has admirers but prefers being alone. Xiao Han has 2 nieces, Xiao Quan and Xiao Tong, who are sisters.

He Ran

He Ran is a young woman and a painter who teaches part-time in an art studio. She is anaemic and suffers from poor health. He Ran has a controlling mother but possesses a quick and independent mind to seek her own freedom. She is adventurous and free-spirited.

Han Yu

Han Yu is a performer and has known He Ran for a long time. Their families know each other and they are of the same social status. Han Yu is interested in He Ran and has been pursuing her. He is a nice guy but clueless.

Pang Zi / Fatty Pang

Pang Zi is Xiao Han’s best friend in town. He is a sociable guy and runs an eatery with his wife.

Chou Jia Rong

Jia Rong is He Ran’s mother. She is a rich businesswoman with a controlling attitude towards her daughter.

He Ran’s Nanny

He Ran’s nanny is hired by Jia Rong not only to take care of He Ran but also to keep tabs on her activities.

A Man

A Man is Xiao Han’s landlady and friend with an old hair salon left by her late grandfather. She is very friendly towards Xiao Han.

Han Yu’s uncle / Uncle Han

Uncle Han comes from a rich family and runs a restaurant in town. He also has a deep passion for plants. Together with his sister who is a doctor, they are family friends of Jia Rong.

Xiao Tong

Xiao Tong is Xiao Han’s niece. She is a young girl who is into arts. Xiao Tong is observant and mischievous.

Zhang Yuan Qi

Yuan Qi is an arts graduate and He Ran’s senior at Xijing University. He is a nice guy who finds a sense of familiarity in He Ran. He has a sister, Zhang Xiao Li, who runs a guesthouse and is a friend of Xiao Han.

Qin Zao

Qin Zao is Xiao Han’s ex-girlfriend’s younger sister. She has been living abroad for a number of years prior to her appearance in town.

Synopsis

One day, He Ran meets Xiao Han at a hair salon and immediately becomes drawn to him. She openly pursues him and dares him to take her as his girlfriend. She is just a young woman who is barely 20 but suffers from weak health. He Ran is looking for freedom and adventure as a way to escape from her controlling mother. On the other hand, Xiao Han is a matured man with a mysterious past. He is distant and prefers to keep things to himself.

With He Ran’s persistence and seduction, Xiao Han gradually becomes interested in her. But both of them are holding secrets about themselves and are tormented souls due to their life experience. Will they be able to trust each other enough to open up about themselves and embark on a meaningful relationship?

The Forbidden Flower Ending And Recap (Spoilers Alert!)

The Forbidden Flower has an open ending. Some will see it as a happy ending but I think it is really up to you how you want to interpret the last few scenes. He Ran was due to go to the US for treatment in the last episode. Before that, Xiao Han proposed to her and they had their wedding in his hometown. After the wedding, they were seen lying in a snowfield with He Ran saying that she was tired and needed to sleep. You can interpret that she died in that scene.

But the story then continued on with a time jump one year later. Xiao Han was back in the coastal village. He was doing what he had promised He Ran. He was waiting for her and rearing 2 fishes that they had talked about before. Xiao Han was emotional when he learned that He Ran had swapped the replica of her father’s flower painting that he had hanging on his wall with the real one. He also choked up when the rare flowers which reminded him of He Ran bloomed.

The last scene is of Xiao Han tending to a sea of flowers that he had obviously planted in memory of He Ran. Then, He Ran’s voice could be heard calling his name before the credits start to roll. You can interpret that as fantasy but if you wait for the credits to finish rolling, He Ran will appear and approach Xiao Han. The drama ends with the couple hugging. Hence, you can also see it as a happy ending.

Xiao Han’s Past

Xiao Han’s mysterious past was told through a conversation between He Ran and Qin Zao in Episode 16. Qin Zao’s elder sister, Qin Rui, was Xiao Han’s ex. Qin Rui was also a horticulturist. She and Xiao Han used to work together to develop plant breeds. Qin Rui wanted to commercialize their work which Xiao Han disagreed with. Hence, they went their separate ways. However, Qin Rui died abroad due to a local riot when she was there for a competition.

Xiao Han felt responsible for Qin Rui’s death and gave all the prize money won as well as his savings to Qin Zao who moved abroad and got married. Qin Zao reappeared to look for Xiao Han in Episode 15. Her motive was to get money as her husband’s business had failed and they had huge debts to repay.

He Ran’s Background

From the very beginning, viewers are told that He Ran has always been sickly. Her actual condition is only revealed in Episode 10 through a gossip between 2 acquaintances. He Ran’s father actually committed suicide just before she was diagnosed with leukemia. Although she was cured, there is a high chance of a relapse.

In Episode 18, we will be told that He Ran’s father also had leukemia and he subsequently committed suicide due to the illness. This is revealed through Jia Rong’s conversation with Yuan Qi. That was why Jia Rong was very controlling towards He Ran as she feared losing her just like how she lost her husband.

When Did They Get Together?

He Ran went to look for Xiao Han after a quarrel with her mother in Episode 8. She then insisted on joining him when he needed to leave for a trip in Episode 9. They slept together then. After a short time together, He Ran decided that she should leave him due to her illness. She told her about her decision to leave in Episode 10. Xiao Han agreed as he knew she had gained admission to Xijing University and thought that was the reason for her decision. She left for Xijing in Episode 11 with a heavy heart.

The couple resumed their relationship in Episode 12 as they simply missed each other too much. He Ran went to see Xiao Han after he texted her to wish her Happy New Year after more than 6 months apart. They fell deeply in love with each other with He Ran expressing her heartfelt emotions to Xiao Han in Episode 17.

Is There Any Breakup?

In addition to a brief separation in Episode 10, He Ran also left for Xijing without informing Xiao Han in Episode 20. She was suffering a relapse and needed to undergo treatment at Xijing for her leukemia. After 3 months, Xiao Han finally got through to her. He thought she was not serious about their relationship and merely faking her feelings for him. Hence, Xiao Han asked for a breakup during the call.

However, Xiao Han couldn’t let go of He Ran completely and moved to Xijing to be close to her. Xiao Han found out about his presence in Episode 22 when her dorm mate had a crush on him. They reconciled in Episode 23 after a quarrel. Xiao Han found out then that He Ran had leukemia when he saw hair clumps on the bed after a night together and got confirmation from Uncle Han on her condition.

Is There Any Love Triangle?

No, as He Ran only has eyes for Xiao Han. She knew Han Yu was interested in her but never gave him a chance. She was taking advantage of him at times but he was ever willing to be at her beck and call. He Ran’s advised him to look for a girlfriend in Episode 20 but he insisted that he loved her and can’t live without her. Han Yu only found out that He Ran had been dating Xiao Han all along in Episode 23.

In Episode 24, He Ran and Han Yu had a chat before she left to marry Xiao Han in his hometown. She told Han Yu that Xiao Han is her life. Han Yu was sorely disappointed but also envious that she had the one person that mattered. He also wanted her to live well. They hugged before she left to catch her plane.

When Did He Ran’s Mother Find Out About Her Relationship?

Jia Rong found out about He Ran’s relationship with Xiao Han in Episode 19. She was checking on He Ran’s nanny through the house CCTV recording and inadvertently, came across the footage of her own daughter with Xiao Han. He Ran agreed to go for treatment and made peace with her mother in Episode 20.

Side Couple

The side couple is between Jia Rong and Yuan Qi. Yuan Qi saw Jia Rong’s real and vulnerable side in Episode 14. He was drawn to her but she gave him a hard time initially as her subordinate. Their relationship got better and they started to flirt in Episode 17 after he helped her with a tyre puncture. He kissed her in Episode 18 and wanted to start a relationship with her. But Jia Rong was hesitant and told him that she is an emotional wreck due to her late husband’s illness and suicide as well as her daughter’s diagnosis.

Yuan Qi didn’t mind but He Ran’s health condition made Jia Rong decide to end their dalliance in Episode 21. Jia Rong then left for the US to check out the treatment for He Ran. Yuan Qi had left a message for Jia Rong that he would wait for her which she recalled in Episode 23. He saw her again at a restaurant one year later in Episode 24. Jia Rong had just returned from the US. They were emotional when she asked him if he will keep to his words of waiting for her. He replied that he has been waiting for her all along.

The Forbidden Flower Review – Sensual And Steamy Melodrama

Many viewers seem to like The Forbidden Flower a lot. While it has its positive points, I think there are 2 things that you need to know before you begin watching. Firstly, this is a girl chases boy romance. The female lead goes all out to tempt and seduce the guy within the first few episodes. So, it is a very blatant kind of pursuit which is unlike Flight To You which also has the girl making the first move but in a more measured manner.

Secondly, there is a huge age gap between the lovers. It is like Dating In The Kitchen which some people can accept and find romantic while others consider it repulsive as the man is too old for the young girl. Therefore, you have to get past these 2 main items to find the drama meaningful.

Having said that though, there is a reason why the female protagonist behaves that way. As for the much older male lead, I guess he just looks hot that viewers could overlook that age gap factor. Thus, some things just work out well enough to make it acceptable for many despite that 2 potential dealbreakers. Whether it would also work out for you would depend on your level of dislike for these scenarios.

It’s More Than Steamy Kisses

Of course, steamy kisses will generate viewership. Sex sells after all. The Forbidden Flower has quite a few of those scenes even after the expected cuts. It uses sexual tension to drive the show in the beginning to make you hook. In fact, the story is quite draggy to me at the start with 2 people just tangoing around each other with no substance to the plot. But the screenwriter and director used that sexual tension angle effectively to give the drama a certain level of sensuality, sexiness, and provocation.

While the intimate scenes are nicely done and addictive, the whole drama is more than just steamy kisses. The setting itself of an idyllic costal village is well-chosen. The male lead’s simple home near the beach immediately gives off romantic vibes. Combined with great cinematography, the drama’s quality is automatically goes up a level.

The other noteworthy factor is the songs that are played in the drama. They suit the story very well indeed and bring up the mood required for viewers to be further drawn into it. Well, at least I enjoyed the songs and made me pay attention again when the story got a little boring.

Finally, the most important piece that gelled everything together is the performance and chemistry of the 2 leads. Without it, this drama would have been a flop given the shallow plot.

Palpable Chemistry

I think the chemistry between Jerry Yan and Xu Ruo Han is what really gives The Forbidden Flower legs. This is an unlikeliest pairing on paper given the age gap between them. That is why there is bound to be some viewers who will find this drama icky. After all, a middle-aged man and a young girl with a 20-year age difference between them isn’t going to appeal to all.

However, both the leads gave a commendable performance to me in the drama. They played their roles well and the much younger Xu Ruo Han was able to keep pace with the more matured Jerry Yan. She gave the character of He Ran a tinge of innocence and daring at the same time as she explores love and desire. It gives me the feeling that she went all out in her portrayal of the character as it isn’t easy acting out all those seductive scenes.

Jerry Yan’s character, Xioa Han, is a very reserved man and he personified that through a calm and measured demeanor throughout. Xiao Han is a man of few words and the actor basically used his facial expressions in a subtle way to portray the character’s emotions.

It is hard to imagine these 2 having blazing chemistry but they did to me in the drama. Xu Ruo Han also did well with her co-star in Perfect And Casual but she upped the ante in The Forbidden Flower. Both of them seemed very comfortable and natural in their roles and interactions with each other. Their kissing scenes have a kind of intimacy that is not often seen in Chinese dramas and I suspect they will also keep getting replayed by viewers!

Cop-Out Ending (Spoilers Alert!)

Personally, this is my main complaint about The Forbidden Flower. It has an iffy ending whereby there is no clear conclusion or explanation of what happened. The scene after the credits is like an afterthought or inserted to placate viewers looking for a happily ever after. I would rather the screenwriter stick to one and write out a conclusion that makes sense and gives viewers a certainty.

Instead, the ending as it is seems to want to straddle both ends of the spectrum rather than having the courage to go for the most realistic option. Going by logic and the way viewers have been fed with the female character’s fate from the beginning, a sad ending would be natural. So, we are given a glimpse of that a few scenes before the ending. I think that would be a logical conclusion. But of course, nobody likes a sad ending and that is probably why we are served a dreamy-like happy ending instead. The only problem though is it is utterly short on specifics.

To me, a sad ending actually fits the story better. This is a melodrama after all and I think that would leave a deeper impression than what we are getting.

My Verdict – Watch Because It’s Different

The Forbidden Flower is not your standard fare of Chinese dramas. It has a sensuality and intimacy to it that is not often explored in mainland productions. So, I would say try it out for the different feel. The OSTs, location settings, and cinematography are the other factors that deserve your attention. They are all effectively used to enhance the mood of the story.

However, the plot itself is pretty thin. There is not much going on for the most part and the first third of the drama is draggy to me. You have to find enjoyment in watching the main couple’s interactions to keep going. Hence, if you can’t sense the chemistry between them, this will be a big bore. The whole drama’s success hinges on the 2 leads’ ability to project an alluring and seductive romance which they did manage to do. Once you are enthralled by them, their love story will then automatically move your emotions as the drama progresses.

For this The Forbidden Flower review, I would rate it 7.5/10. I can’t give it higher as the start was a bore for me. I don’t mind the girl chases boy scenario but it got tiresome after a while with little else going on. You can say that lays the foundation for the relationship but the lack of a substantive plot made me less inclined to binge on it in the beginning.

Overall, I would still recommend a watch though due to its unique features mentioned above. If you like a steamy romance, this is also a must watch and I guarantee that you would be searching for the deleted kissing scenes thereafter! If you are a Jerry Yan fan, this is also a no-brainer drama choice. His hot body alone should be worth your time and make you forget his real age.

==> The Forbidden Flower is available on Amazon Prime (affiliate link)