When the Camellia Blooms is my current crack-show, and one of my favourites this year. So, it deserves to be immortalized in a special post.
________________________________________________
This gem of a show has managed to completely steal my heart and win me over in a way I did not expect. Before it aired, it wasn’t very high on my radar, except for the fact that I was excited that it was Kang Haneul’s first lead role (finally!) and I love Gong Hyojin.
The setting of the story in a small town gave me pause, because a lot of times when K-dramas are set in small towns, I find that they tend to use a lot of stereotypes in portraying characters (the Reply series being one of the wonderful exceptions). However, I was a bit hopeful because the writer on this wrote Fight My Way, which was a joy to watch back in 2017, so I tentatively dove in.
Boy am I glad I did that!
First of all, I love that this is the story of characters we don’t often see at the forefront of dramaland. I love that this is the story of a young woman who is a single mother, and that this is an exploration of what that means in the society she lives in. People like Dongbaek are often stigmatized by (the Korean) society and left on the fringes of their communities; but in this story, Dongbaek is the CENTRE of focus and it is so refreshing to be seeing this kind of story in dramaland.
This show is essentially a love story/ family/ slice-of-life drama with dark undertones. And I have to say, the tones are so well-balanced that nothing ever feels jarring. It gives me butterflies from all the cuteness and warm moments and makes me hold my breath from the suspense. The pacing of the story is impeccably done, the directing is gorgeous, the acting is natural and amazing, and the script is raw, vulnerable and refreshing.
But my favorite thing about it all is the characters! This drama has an ensemble cast, and the rapport between them works so well, it feels like they all complement each other. The characters are all authentic, complex and with stories of their own. Their relationships all intermingle and create the perfect recipe for a deep and genuinely humane story.
And at the centre of it all is Dongbaek, a young single mother who has been dealt a tough hand by fate, but is facing it all with fierce determination. I love that despite everything, Dongbaek is not a doormat. She could easily have let life beat her all the way down to the bottom, but she kept her head high. She is not ashamed of who she is or the life she lives. And throughout the series, it’s really a revelation to see her character growth as she connects with her inner strength and defiance, and allows herself to be loved again.
It is with such a woman that Yong-shik falls in love with, because he is able to see all of that. But i can’t talk about Yong-shik without mentioning Kang Ha-neul –bless his heart– who plays him. Goodness gracious, that man is killing it! I know he himself is somewhat of a dork IRL, but he upped that to the maximum to give us Yong-shik: the funniest, cutest, dorkiest human to ever grace our screens. He is a persistent and effusive sort of guy, who makes no attempt to hide his feelings and proceeds right to wooing Dongbaek with all he’s got. The ensuing courtship is both hilarious and moving. Particularly, I love that Yong-shik never fails to remind Dongbaek that he is on her side, and that she’s precious and worthy of love. He believes in her strength and lets her handle her personal matters, but remains supportive.
As a couple (#Yongbae?), their chemistry is electric. They are honest, supportive and vulnerable with each other. They respect each other’s boundaries, and individually they are people with vibrant lives of their own. I just love seeing a healthy relationship that’s not too cliché, and the whole of dramaland should take notes.
The show is not over yet, but I trust that it will continue to bless us with its magic until the end. I already don’t know what I’m gonna do with myself, but I know it will stay with me for a long time.
🌹❤🌈
What a lovely write-up! As you mentioned, KHN is a dork in real life and whenever he’s being one in the show i can’t help but imagine his laugh/clap combo in interviews 😂
I think the great thing about Camellia is that The characters are really layered and we’re shown their different sides instead of being told one is straight up good/evil.
🥰 A heart warming write up of a heart warming drama ~ I’m watching with my sister and my mom, separately some weeks, but always with at least a group phone to discuss what happened when we are all caught up ~
I don’t think I have anything to add on the drama itself that you didn’t already say. Here’s hoping the final weeks keep the pacing and story together ~ (I have theories but I won’t share here, my sister told me I was reading too much into things 😅)
Yuyuu, The Drama Queen
November 10, 2019 at 11:55 AM
When the Camellia Blooms is my current crack-show, and one of my favourites this year. So, it deserves to be immortalized in a special post.
________________________________________________
This gem of a show has managed to completely steal my heart and win me over in a way I did not expect. Before it aired, it wasn’t very high on my radar, except for the fact that I was excited that it was Kang Haneul’s first lead role (finally!) and I love Gong Hyojin.
The setting of the story in a small town gave me pause, because a lot of times when K-dramas are set in small towns, I find that they tend to use a lot of stereotypes in portraying characters (the Reply series being one of the wonderful exceptions). However, I was a bit hopeful because the writer on this wrote Fight My Way, which was a joy to watch back in 2017, so I tentatively dove in.
Boy am I glad I did that!
First of all, I love that this is the story of characters we don’t often see at the forefront of dramaland. I love that this is the story of a young woman who is a single mother, and that this is an exploration of what that means in the society she lives in. People like Dongbaek are often stigmatized by (the Korean) society and left on the fringes of their communities; but in this story, Dongbaek is the CENTRE of focus and it is so refreshing to be seeing this kind of story in dramaland.
This show is essentially a love story/ family/ slice-of-life drama with dark undertones. And I have to say, the tones are so well-balanced that nothing ever feels jarring. It gives me butterflies from all the cuteness and warm moments and makes me hold my breath from the suspense. The pacing of the story is impeccably done, the directing is gorgeous, the acting is natural and amazing, and the script is raw, vulnerable and refreshing.
But my favorite thing about it all is the characters! This drama has an ensemble cast, and the rapport between them works so well, it feels like they all complement each other. The characters are all authentic, complex and with stories of their own. Their relationships all intermingle and create the perfect recipe for a deep and genuinely humane story.
And at the centre of it all is Dongbaek, a young single mother who has been dealt a tough hand by fate, but is facing it all with fierce determination. I love that despite everything, Dongbaek is not a doormat. She could easily have let life beat her all the way down to the bottom, but she kept her head high. She is not ashamed of who she is or the life she lives. And throughout the series, it’s really a revelation to see her character growth as she connects with her inner strength and defiance, and allows herself to be loved again.
(…continued below)
Yuyuu, The Drama Queen
November 10, 2019 at 11:57 AM
(continued…)
It is with such a woman that Yong-shik falls in love with, because he is able to see all of that. But i can’t talk about Yong-shik without mentioning Kang Ha-neul –bless his heart– who plays him. Goodness gracious, that man is killing it! I know he himself is somewhat of a dork IRL, but he upped that to the maximum to give us Yong-shik: the funniest, cutest, dorkiest human to ever grace our screens. He is a persistent and effusive sort of guy, who makes no attempt to hide his feelings and proceeds right to wooing Dongbaek with all he’s got. The ensuing courtship is both hilarious and moving. Particularly, I love that Yong-shik never fails to remind Dongbaek that he is on her side, and that she’s precious and worthy of love. He believes in her strength and lets her handle her personal matters, but remains supportive.
As a couple (#Yongbae?), their chemistry is electric. They are honest, supportive and vulnerable with each other. They respect each other’s boundaries, and individually they are people with vibrant lives of their own. I just love seeing a healthy relationship that’s not too cliché, and the whole of dramaland should take notes.
The show is not over yet, but I trust that it will continue to bless us with its magic until the end. I already don’t know what I’m gonna do with myself, but I know it will stay with me for a long time.
🌹❤🌈
parkchuna ❤️🍉
November 10, 2019 at 4:15 PM
What a lovely write-up! As you mentioned, KHN is a dork in real life and whenever he’s being one in the show i can’t help but imagine his laugh/clap combo in interviews 😂
I think the great thing about Camellia is that The characters are really layered and we’re shown their different sides instead of being told one is straight up good/evil.
Katrina
November 10, 2019 at 8:55 PM
I always enjoy reading other peoples take on a drama that I love as much as this one.
Cocoa, The Fake Poet of February
November 11, 2019 at 5:02 AM
🥰 A heart warming write up of a heart warming drama ~ I’m watching with my sister and my mom, separately some weeks, but always with at least a group phone to discuss what happened when we are all caught up ~
I don’t think I have anything to add on the drama itself that you didn’t already say. Here’s hoping the final weeks keep the pacing and story together ~ (I have theories but I won’t share here, my sister told me I was reading too much into things 😅)
Yuyuu, The Drama Queen
November 11, 2019 at 7:06 AM
That’s lovely! I’m also watching it with two of my sisters!