Drama Digest
In this magical and whimsical kingdom, there is a beautiful story that is slowly unfolding. Otherwise known as Senior Brother Always Has to Blossom, Zhao Ta Tan’s senior brother has a magic flower that grows on his forehead. This flower gradually blooms when he gets emotional. But with this bloom comes some devastating consequences. When the flower blooms, it will fall into the devil’s hand. When it does, Zhao Tan Tan starts to have some hard days that are combated by persuading his senior brother to recite more scriptures and be less emotional. Will they prevent the flower from falling into the wrong hands? Will Zhao Tan Tan be able to protect his senior brother? What does this whimsical world have in store for us? Why does the devil want to flower, and what happens when he gets it? An adaptation of the manhua called Shi Xiong Zong Shi Yao Kai Hua by Han Yi Shui, watch the drama and the wonderful story that unfolds.
The Feel-Good Part
The story is a beautiful one. Any story that will have flowers or flora or nature will have a beautiful setting and visuals. This drama banks on that natural beauty and tells an incredible story. The show’s visual appeal is genuinely wonderful. The colors, cinematography, and shot compositions all add to the beautiful and whimsical nature of the drama. The costuming and styling adds to the fantasy element and truly make for a beautiful viewing experience. The romantic aspects of the show make itself known and while being direct still seems good and something you would want to root for.
The Disappointing Factor
As mentioned, the romantic elements are not very subtle. If you are looking for a slow-building romance, then maybe this drama is not for you. Some moments feel comical not because of the comedy but because of how the scenes play out. There are a lot of hit-or-miss jokes and moments that do not add to the story. The story itself is very minimal. It is just a story that requires its leads to maintain a sense of calmness. But whether or not you find the show unrealistic or not solely depends on how much you like fantasy dramas and the fantasy genre itself.
In-Depth Analysis
The drama remains faithful to its manhua and is a pretty good adaptation. The story, however, is an odd one as it requires it not to showcase any emotion that could be considered ‘too much.’ It is not uncommon for Asian households to not show emotions or not act on impulse, as it can hurt you. So it is peculiar to see that translated on screen when the entire premise is for you to conceal your feelings and not showcase them. But in a world where a demon could cause havoc if you do, the most straightforward answer is to hide and not to feel.
Star Power
Cha Chuen Yee directed the drama and brings out the whimsical nature of the source material and translates it beautifully on screen. He has directed several projects, including Once Upon a Time in Triad Society, The Romance of Tiger and Rose, Ni Chang, I Will Never Let You Go, and Fate. Our main drama star is Zhao Tan Tan played by Huang Ri Ying. She delivers an outstanding performance that is both nuanced and campy with a touch of innocence. She is known for her roles in dramas such as Hidden World, To Get Her, Psychic Princess: Season 1, Ancient Detective, and Two Souls in One. She also appeared in the drama, Real Actor. Our other leading role is Cui Chen played by Alen Fang. Not only is he able to play off of Huang Ri Yang with great chemistry and joy, but he also manages to stand on his own as a significant presence on screen. Alen Fang is best known as a member of the popular boy group called M4M. He starred in dramas and movies such as A Different Kind of Pretty Man, Special Beautiful Man, Delicious Destiny, Demon Hunter Yan Chixia, and 1921. Aside from the main characters, we also have some significant supporting roles played by actors and actresses such as Fei Long, Yang Jin Cheng, Wu Yi Jia, Zhong Qi, Qi Shi Lun, Leslie Ma, and more. We also have guest appearances from stars such as Yang Yi Fei, Xia Ning Jun, and Qian Yong Chen.
Overall Opinion
While the story might be a bit skeletal, it is still a beautiful viewing experience and is truly worth a watch solely for its visual appeal.
