The current feast of C-dramas airing will continue into April as Youku has announced the premiere of period C-drama Blossoms in Adversity (formerly titled Story of Hua Zi) for April 2nd. Starring Hu Yi Tian and Zhang Jing Yi, the drama is about the female lead from a well-do-to family who steps up to build a family business and take care of all the women in the clan after their family falls from grace. Zhang Jing Yi absolutely is perfectly cast as the go-getter get shit done business woman by necessity while Hu Yi Tian is still an unknown to me why he’s male lead level as he always has the exact same flat expression set in his boyish face. This drama isn’t big budget but the visuals look pretty but the story could be a series of obstacle/overcome rinse and repeat situation for the female lead that could get repetitive.
Trailer for Blossoms in Adversity:
I like the FL, she can carry strong character woman role. ML is always weak in acting (emotionless wooden look), he only has the tall height, his long square face does not fit costume drama at all. I am surprised to see Caesar Wu as second ML, omg his look has changed so much from the Meteor Garden 2018 drama… too bad he is still stuck in supporting roles, his changing looks cannot make people recognize him at first glance. I have once watched a costume drama with him being ML, quite bad drama, will not recommend, and his face looked different then…
Zhang Jing Yi doesn’t look quite right in period dramas. She looks like she knows what a microwave is. The male lead has zero expression.
ZJY looks charming and attractive IMO. Everyone has different aesthetic taste.
@Somebody
I think it’s pretty indisputable that xianxia and period pieces are typically associated with hyperfeminine female leads. Zhang Jing Yi is gorgeous but looks very, very modern. This isn’t a dig at her – just how things are.
She is a good actress but I agree with u on this point.
I agree with Rina on this
From the trailer, the FL looks solid but the ML seems to be just a flower vase. Although HYT is in the hit Handsome Siblings so I will check this out. Caesar was recently in a costume drama with Xu Lu but I dropped it after first ep it was bad.
@Koala, I am waiting for SZE, LYN drama Prisoner of Beauty this March guess it aint gonna happen. I started reading the novel now. 😀
Last time I saw this actress, she was stone faced and wooden most of the drama with little nuance but I thought she had potential. This trailer doesn’t give enough to change my impression but it’s only a trailer anyway. If they are voice dubbed, looks like the dubbing will be doing most of the acting work so far.
Zhang Jing Yi has yet to convince me she would be where she is now had she not been Zhou Xun and Chen Khun fav child.
From what I have seen nothing scream solid about her.
ZJY’s face does not fit well with the visuals of this drama and she is not a good actress yet.
HYT does not look good at all. But I must say he did a good job in “Defying The Storm”. It’s his best performance and the best drama he ever performed in. I think he should stick to this kind of dramas.
Oh, somebody mentioned Caesar Wu. Thankfully someone knows who he is. He did not perform very well but he was quite decent in his dramas. I don’t think his looks changed due to plastic surgery. It’s the makeup, hairstyling and his styling overall.
I think the only person who is being acknowledged as a good actor in the cast is not mentioned in the Koala’s articles neither by anyone here. It’s Bian Cheng. Hopefully he’ll perform well and steal the attention to him. He is so very talented.
Isn’t Bian Cheng the kid who insulted Ren Min’s appearance in the live stream?
It’s really the same with how Hu Yi Tian also insulted his previous female costar, Shen Yue’s appearance in public.
Two guys with this low EQ in the same drama! I will pass. Thanks.
I’m sure you watch dramas with so much worse people.
BC was 15 years old when that stupid thing he did to Ren Min happened. He made public apologies. I’m sure he have learned how to behave in front of the cameras. BTW, he never acted like that before or after. The kid is working as an actor since he was in diapers without any bad publicity.
Ren Min is not a saint too. She is dating a director and being provocative on weibo when people make criticism.
@Jiao
Oh no, Ren Min is dating a director!! Omg!! The scandal!! Whatever shall we do?? Call the morality police right now, arrest her!!!
Th, the things I will read here when you defend your idols.
@Jiao, you could’ve just stopped at BC was just 15 years old. I totally get that he was young and didn’t know better. There’s no need to drag others to make someone look better. How is she being provocative on her Weibo? If she’s just defending herself without making disparaging comments about others, I don’t see a problem. How are two people in their 20s dating translate to not being a saint?
You are unhinged. How is her dating life relevant to this?
I know people are saying ZJY looks too modern for period dramas, but I feel like HYT is the one most not suited for costume styling. Those two little wavy bangs on the side aren’t doing him any favors either. I didn’t watch Handsome Siblings because neither of them looked handsome to me. Jimmy Lin’s version will always be my favorite. HYT looks much better in modern dramas.
I agree with Koala about the cast. HYT always looks wooden. ZJY has impressed me enough in Lighter & Princess to like her. Her acting in other dramas is also solid although I didn’t like those MLs enough to watch them. Besides, her boss Zhou Xun is one of my favorite C actresses. I believe ZX has good eyes on talent. ZX looked so beautiful and her acting was mesmerizing in a drama costarring with a famous Taiwanese veteran actor many many years ago. I watched that drama with my dad when I was still at school and was attracted to her instantly the first time I saw her on screen.
Nonetheless, the plot of this new drama sounds same old same old as other female-centric, typical of Chinese superwoman period dramas. These Chinese dramas in the matriarch genre were usually pretty draggy, mundane trivia focused, e.g, The Story of Minglan and The Sword and the Brocade, not up my alley.
Which Chinese female empowerment drama do you like?
I adore Zhang Jingyi. She is so gorgeous and can actually act. Not to mention her chemistry with her male leads is always great and she is one of the rare female stars that doesn’t shy away from intimacy scenes. Perfect for this role.
He is…well I guess, there? I will try it for her.
They made him the ML when Ceaser Wu is right there?
Ikr! Bizarre! He has been consistently emotionless throughout his dramas while Ceaser Wu was charming at least in General’s Lady. Visually and acting-wise Ceaser Wu would easily steal thunder from HYT.
When I see Zhang Jingyi, I only recall her role in Lighter and Princess. And I despised her character. There is only so much “pick-me” attitude I can accept before I give up. So unfortunately, as a result of that role, I don’t really like her. But looks-wise, I think she’s decent. I do understand where folks are coming from when they say she looks too modern. It’s like her stare, it’s too blunt.
I also don’t like HYT. He has an overbite and that causes his expressions to look unnatural. He’s also stoic as an actor and kind of like the next version of Peter Sheng.
I’m involved with donghuas lately so haven’t been catching any dramas. I’ll check reviews first before deciding if I’ll jump in
I always wonder how people can say ZJY is “decent” when it comes to looks. She is an absolutely gorgeous woman.
Decent. Damn. I sure want to see your photo if she is “decent”.
Lmao get the heck out of here. Compared to the legions of beautiful women on the ebiz scene, calling her decent is enough praise. Also, celebs and actors are based off looks. If I critique her aesthetics, it’s because her occupation puts a premium on it for OUR consumption.
Your analogy doesn’t make sense either. Do I have to cook better than a chef when I say their food sucks? Everyone has their own opinions. Grow some skin.
Coralie’s aesthetic taste is already questionable when she appreciates ugly Esther Yu that much and always praises her to the galaxy. LOL. No need to debate with Coralie about visuals. She has a very low and bizarre taste.
@Coralie
So basically you are an ugly troll that is fulfilling her own inadequacies this way.
Thanks for making that clear.
PS. No, actors aren’t based on looks. Wth.
@Wth yea? You ever see an ugly actress? Nuf said. Dumbassery these days.
@Somebody K troll
@Somebody Your taste is also bizarre when you consider that Ren Min looks better than Bai Lu lmao. Bai Lu isn’t particularly pretty but she definitely looks better than Ren Min. Who got hate for being ugly? Ren Min. Lol.
I like her but not so much him! The first and last time I ever watched her in anything was Fall In Love with Chen Xing Xu and she acted well enough for me to have a good impression. Idk if I’ll tune in for this drama though.
Blossom this, Blossom that, Blossoms, Blossom, Blossoms….sigh.
😆 🤣 😂 😹 I know , it like they went to meeting this year for that word is be used in titles
It’s better than ages-old abused buzz word, love here, love there, love everywhere. LOL.
They both dont suit period pieces. Anythg from him aft his debut drama had been forgettable. I like FL from Lighter and princess. Not likely to watch this.
I like watching both these leads, they’re beautiful and likeable. Acting doesn’t have to be obvious, many people are pretty expressionless facially in real life, it’s the micro expressions of the eye and the general facial pleasantness, that makes a good actor. Less is more, I find, Korean drama actors are often too dramatic for me.