La Fleur Interdite (2023)

You don't come by something like this everyday❤

Binged it within 2days, and now I'm a whole mood.🥹 The drama got me exactly where it wanted me to be, from the opening sequence to the ending, it has been such a visceral, bittersweet experience and a celebration about the soft underbelly of humans, about basic desire, about life. It was naive and simple most of the time, and was deep for the exact same reason. I really applaud the entire cast and crew for doing this project.
It didn't always make sense, but it didn't have to, either. Such is life. Sometimes you realise when you are overly critical of stories and character dynamics it is actually your own prejudice speaking, that you think only your moral standards are valid and noone else's. It is not easy to unlearn that, and to just lie back and listen to the story that the other side has so generously decided to share with you, faults, fragmented and all. It is very freeing and that's what this drama was to me~ it broadened my scope in lots of ways than not.
It was 99% vibes, 1% plot story with tenderhornysad feelings and with amazing kaleidoscopic camera language, don’t miss it!

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"I would rather live freely for ten days than live against my own will for 10 years."

These words were spoken by Zhou Zi Shu in Word of Honor (2021), which happens to be one of my all time favorite Chinese dramas. I wonder what he would have had to say to He Ran had they ever met.

Though coming from two completely different spheres of dramaland, I think this sentence captures the essence of The Forbidden Flower/Summer Flower/Xia Hua, which follows the rich and talented daughter of a late renowned painter, He Ran, who despite having everything, has gone through several dark days.

Still reeling from the after effects of a deadly illness, 20 year old He Ran is sheltered and cut off from the outside world by her overbearing and overprotective mother, Mrs. Qiu, who has assigned a nanny to watch over her for 24/7.
While managing to sneak out and enjoy bits of a free life, she is enticed by the voice of a stranger at a Hair Salon, whom she only knows by his assigned No. 33. It's unbelievable, but He Ran finds an excuse to escape her gloomy existence - find No.33 again.
Xiao Han, the owner of the said voice, is a man years past his youthful days, but that does not stop He Ran from pursuing him.

She cautiously probes for information about him from what she could gather within the first two episodes, before beginning a full blown onslaught to realize her vision. This part in particular was hilarious and slightly disconcerting to watch. Xiao Han, the object of her attentions yeets himself away from his own home to escape her shenanigans.

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I want to rate this drama a 7, but I invested too much time into this to end it in such an unholy manner.

Now… I will begin by writing down a few observations/random details/caveats first from what I gathered:

1.This is an age-gap drama based on an already existing novel 'He Stands in the Gorgeous Summer Flowers (他站在夏花绚烂里) by Tai Hou Gui Lai.
I 'google translate' read 90% of the novel and I 100% prefer the drama. There are some quite distinct changes in characterization and the live adaptation adds real depth to the two dimensional versions I read about. Or maybe things got lost in translation.
I've noticed that contemporary Chinese dramas often surpass their novel counterparts and this drama is no exception.

2. And judging by the number of watchers it has, I think the age-gap tag scared away most of the viewers. And I'm 100% sure that this drama is a success partly because Jerry Yan looks like he did 20 years ago - not to mention that he has almost the exact same hairstyle from his Dao Ming Si days. Both Xu Ruo Han and Jerry Yan just fit together so well into their characters and I barely noticed that there was an age gap between them. Age-gap doesn't matter to me as long as the characters are brought to life.

3. I highly suspect that multiple script changes or scenes were shot. There are times that scenes black out and cut off jarringly. Some of the dialogues were never mentioned, yet we later hear the characters speak about it. There are certain scenes from the trailer which are never shown. And the additional behind the scenes footage (aside from the intimate ones) sort of solidifies the point.
The opening scene itself seems to have selected a different shot instead of the one which we see in EP8. (There is a minor flashback.)
Moreover, this is definitely "NOT" an S-Class drama from my assumptions. It had only 30 minutes per episode.
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The warm fuzzies:

● The Scenery: the whole drama is a visual feast. Every scene is shot beautifully. It's worth watching it just for that alone. Plenty of money seems to have been spent on camera and lighting and location and flowers and painting.

● The Cast: Every single actor played their part to a tee. I loved how Xu Ruo Han in particular portrayed two different sides of He Ran - the one when she is not genuinely interested in something and the other side of her which she reveals to Xiao Han alone.
Xiao Han, a man content with being isolated and loves the peace and quiet of the plants, was a joy to watch. I loved how he looked like he was regretting every decision he made after meeting He Ran during the first 8 episodes. We slowly see him give up and just give in to her demands and by the 10th episode, we are aware of why he shelters himself from everyone. Jerry Yan absolutely served justice to his character.

Their chemistry together was just too sweet and easy on the eyes. I did not find the age gap annoying.

The mother was another well acted character - - atleast I think so. If she was meant to depict a broken yet muddled woman, she definitely did the part well. Supporting characters such as Pan Zi and even Han Yu showed the contrast between He Ran and her 'hidden friends'.

● The Soundtrack: My favorite is "The One'' by Vivian Loh. Had the opening scene begun with Lucid Dream, I don't think I would've been pulled in as intensely as I had.
Plus, there were several songs played throughout that just makes certain scenes indelible. Summer by Nicki Lee is one of my newfound favorite songs, thanks to this drama.
Some other favorites:
● Heartbeat by Vivian Loh.
● Mine by Vivian Loh.


● The Characters: they are the reason I stuck till the very end, regardless of how depressing or happy it was going to be.

Han Yu was one character who made me laugh everytime he came on screen. Not because he was purposefully being oblivious to He Ran's dismissal of his friendship and companionship, but he was also the only one who even bothered to worry whenever He Ran showed signs off sickness.
Xiao Han has several fans, so I'll skip right down to He Ran, whom I absolutely adore. And I feel a bit guilty speaking for her instead of against her.

Several people mentioned how she loves selfishly. Was she selfish? Yes, definitely. But, she loved selflessly too. She put in 100% effort into her relationship, sacrificing everything once she understood that it was worth it.
Her comparing herself to other women and making dangerous promises ticked off several viewers, but I understood where she was coming from. She just wasn't able to wrap her mind around how Xiao Han must've had other women in his life and wondered whether she was meant to be forgotten just like them.

(I once asked my friends who were in a relationship how they could be with their person, knowing he must've liked someone else before them. Someone gave me the exact same answer as Xiao Han's.)

He Ran seems to have the same fear - that she too will be like one of his experiences. If anyone noticed, she is the assertive one in their relationship. She is well aware that she isn't a 'nice' guy.

She just doesn't want to be forgotten like the many people who had crossed Xiao Han's life. Ultimately, we all wish to be remembered by someone in some way.

And as much as I appreciate her character, several times she comes off as unreasonably and dangerously possessive. She barely lets anyone breathe on Xiao Han - there are episodes where we see her push limits and just go bonkers.

Her pursuit of Xiao Han is itself comedic. Xiao Han considers his temporary attraction to her as something he wouldn't obsess over, and He Ran's stalking tendencies is what he deems to be the antics of a young girl who is blinded by her crush. It isn't after a long time, that he finally concludes that she isn't kidding.
Well, He Ran was lucky that it was Xiao Han. And vice versa. Or else this drama would've turned into a crime thriller.

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Now….. somethings make me want to rate this a 6.5 - 7. I settled on 9 [rerated it an 8 when I realized that there were too many filler episodes past EP13] because the drama seems to have been made with serious dedication and effort worthy of a longer drama. Both from the cast and crew. Plus, this is the only time a contemporary setting which is not centered around youth managed to keep me hooked.

● I was unfortunately not invested in He Ran's mom's and Yuan Qi's relationship.
I liked their individual scenes, but I simply did not care to watch their scenes as a couple. More than half of the drama after EP13 focused on them.

● The handling of He Ran's illness. For someone who is cocooned by her mom, it irked me how casually everyone except Han Yu and his aunt were regarding her health. (It was understandable why He Ran had resolved to 'living in the moment'.)
Both of them were more concerned than anyone whenever she appeared weak.
It's mentioned in the first two episodes about her 'follow up' check ups, but then we barely hear about it. Shouldn't it have been stressed on more?

And after Episode 18 or 19, I could not make sense of what was happening. Her diagnosis and prognosis were more positive than negative, then what about her treatment? Shouldn't it be more serious?
It's evident that some things were portrayed more for cinematic value rather than reality.
It might be able to get brushed off in a book, but in an onscreen adaptation with significant changes, it's hard to pass by.

● Last, but never the least. The ENDING. The last time an ending pissed me off so much was Word of Honor.
I could literally see the director teetering over whether to wrap up the drama by staying true to the source novel or to choose happiness over everything. (I've pinned an additional comment on my thoughts about the ending to my review.)

Well, he is a winner, cause I can see four different versions.

With all these complaints, this happens to be the first contemporary Chinese drama after Legally Romance (2022) that I've been patient enough to keep up with in spite of my complaints.

Nevertheless, this drama is one of the most beautiful and romantic ones I've seen to date.
The Queen of the Night blooms very rarely, but it is for this very reason that it's remembered. And maybe that's the same charm 'The Forbidden Flower' exudes.

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recommend this one steamy romance, unusually quite mature cdrama

was long time I seen drama which could arouse mine emotions as much as this one. I would give it even 9,5 if it wasnt melodrama. I dont think I will rewatch this one often since aint masochist.

This drama got young Female lead pursuing older male lead. She is pursuing her first love feverishly and straightforwardly as if there is not going be tomorrow. And maybe there aint one.

Whole drama got alot of artistry and flowers in it

plot - FL is rich young woman 20y which was long time sick and now once she recovered she is being kept captive in house by her mother which for fear of health her daughter locked her in golden cage.
FL manages to flee cage time from time to explore world... and once she visits hair salon to wash her hairs. She fell in love with older man which was her hairstylist [ML]... her next exploring got new target.
TO Find him.

genre -romance,melodrama

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Passionate Romance

Gosh, this was such a beautiful love story. So much passion between He Ran and Xiao Han. Their chemistry was so natural and they always looked so intimate, I felt I shouldn't be watching them.

Stuff I liked:

1. Chemistry between the leads - HR was an innocent/cute looking seductress. I loved how she broke down XH's walls. Speaking of XH, watching that man try to hold back from going after HR in the 'courting' period of their relationship was getting me so hot and bothered. It was so intense. You could just feel the lust lingering in the air between the two. I'm off to scour the internet for the deleted scenes right after this review.

2. Locations - Loved the location where this was filmed. Specifically XH's salon residence and his hometown. Getting a small glimpse of the Qiang people and their customs was a huge delight! The salon residence too was such a pretty spot, it all looked so homey and cozy and relaxing. I got lots of healing watching the beautiful scenery.

3. OST - The music was superb. That is all.

Few things i didn't like about this were:

1. HR breaking up/ghosting XH and then getting back with him again only to then do it all over again. Like girl, be consistent with your decision.

2. HR undermining Hu Yun's feelings for her to try to play them down as nothing. I dont like when people do this. Just tell the guy you don't love him in the same way, don't say what he feels for you isn't love... you don't know his heart.

3. Even I want to crucify myself for saying this, but there were just so many slow motion shots of Jerry Yan. Honest to Christ, the man is a work of art to be admired endlessly but i just kept laughing everytime the OST would all of a sudden pick up and we see Jerry Yan in various lighting and angles all in one scene.

Overall, really good show with sad ending, imo. People say the ending credits are canon but I don't think so. I'm not one for sad endings but really, it's the journey that matters not the goal and that's definitely my takeaway from this drama. The love journey between HR and XH matters more than how it ended.

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The premise of the drama itself was really interesting so I watched it immediately and finished watching within just two days. I usually can't finish long dramas especially when it feels dragged out and boring. But Forbidden Flower is so good, there are many good points, of course there are also some points that I feel it's lacking.

The set designs were especially captivating, there's a certain charm to the male lead's run down and simple house, you would say it's crude but at the same time, it feels like a home. In contrast to the wealthy village where the female lead and other characters live in, which seems so Idk fake? Cinematography is also just chef's kiss. The characters are also very charming, I find He Ran (the female lead) very lovable. Her pursuit of the male lead made me admire her, their chemistry was also off the charts for me. The male lead is a quiet man but I could see how he found her endearing. I wish his character was more fleshed out though. In comparison to the FL, his background story doesn't seem to make much sense for me because I got the impression that he was an alcoholic, super enigmatic and closed off. Maybe it's just not that tragic for me lol, the way they built up the story made me think it was something so sad, but maybe they made it that way to foreshadow because his past plays a part, though minimal. Besides that, I do think their character design (outfits and styling), were appropriate, though I don’t really appreciate the repeat of the exact same outfits, idk what they were trying to do with that. As for the second couple, I don't really think they were necessary lol, they feel like a filler episode for me, maybe it wouldn't give that impression if the guy was introduced earlier on and he wasn't related to so many people. There couldn't be so much coincidence, but then again he was also kinda like a plot device? Idk I feel like with sonmany characters already introduced, they could just do what he's needed for the plot. The ending was just not it for me, I won't elaborate.

All in all, I would still rewatch it, the story and chemistry of the main leads were the selling points for me. Many scenes were really just wow, how could you not fall in love at that point?

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Bittersweet to the Very End

God knows how much I love this drama and how big a place it holds in my heart. I quite literally spent 2 whole days doing absolutely nothing but watch this drama. I pine after it still and it’s been a month. I don’t think I can ever get over this drama and that’s gotta be something because I’ve never felt this way about ANY drama.

Plot-wise, it’s nothing too extraordinary, dense or complicated. It’s a simple plot yet it’s executed extremely well. Every single scene was made so beautiful that it was a shame to skip anything at all. I’m a big skipper and to say I skipped no scene in this drama, not one! Everything was so aesthetically appealing, Xu Ruohan and Jerry Yan included! Both of together just made me want to cry because I know they made me feel single. The two’s chemistry and acting was so on point that they looked like they were actually in love with each other.

This is a note to the people who were frustrated with Xu Ruohan’s character: keep in mind that she was sheltered, spoiled, knew nothing of the world and was hardly 20. We can’t expect complete maturity from someone who hardly knew what she was thinking either. Her character was portrayed exactly as she needed to be — naive and self-centered but also immature and a young girl so helplessly in love that she’d do anything for the man she loved. Her character is real and perhaps that’s why so many people reject her but it’s also why I love her. She is who she needs to be and was portrayed beautifully. Props to Xu Ruohan for bringing her role to life :)

And OH MY GOD DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON JERRY YAN. That man’s character made me want to cry. He was so unbelievably perfect and was everything, I REPEAT, EVERYTHING he needed to be. A bad-boy older man who has a gentle heart? I could not stop myself from swooning over that man! He also portrayed his character perfectly, it almost felt like he WAS his character. His acting when it came to romance scenes and pining over Xu Ruohan had me kicking my legs in the air. To see him on the screen was so exhilarating.

The actually story tugged on my heartstrings more than once and I honestly don’t think this review can be complete without at least one spoiler. I can’t figure out whether I want this drama to end happily or not so in MY mind, Xu Ruohan got therapy and lived happily with Jerry Yan for however long she lived but the ending was so ambiguous that there was no end. Most people lean towards the fact that she did, in fact, pass on when she and him were in the snow but I know my mind didn’t like that ending (I fell asleep sobbing that day).

I typically don’t finish sad dramas because of their endings, Youth of May and Uncontrollably Fond being some of the ones I just dropped before the end came and left the battle field almost unscathed, but this drama, I watched to the end. It only felt right. It deserves so much more attention because OH MY GOD. This wasn’t a drama, it was an experience.

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Ending part Episode 24

The drama is great aside from slow pace of the series and some unusual cut editing they aired. The main leads was awesome. And I have some few complain and it's all about the last episode which kinda messed/mixed up.
After I re-watched the drama, mostly at ending part (Ep.24), I think it is the sad ending. The female lead, He-Ran died at the snow and lake scene. Others who've watched it thinks she recovered when she went to America for treatment with her mother but it did not happen. Because at the lake scene part, He-Ran told Xiao Han that she's not leaving and wanted to stay with Xiao Han's side 'til the end. The two lay down on the snow, He-Ran told Xiao Han about the things that he promised to her were all fulfilled and she really love him. After that He-Ran said that she feels a bit tired and wanted to sleep for awhile, I think that's the signal that she was about to pass away that's why Xiao Han cried after that.

Now there's a scene after the credit roll, that they've met again after a year. For what I think, it is Xiao Han's memories of her that she will be forever alive in his heart and mind, and his last woman as he promised.

But there's a contradiction to the story. The mother said, she will do what her daughter He-Ran request that she should start a new life BUT only if she will go for a treatment in America with her and recovered. And in 1year, the mother reunited with her love interest and agrees to start living with him. And the people around them acting like nothing happen about He-Ran. Like what the hell happen and which is which is real? it confuse me. hahhaah

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I want a follow up to these people and their lives I am very invested in their characters.

This is a very stylish drama the cinematography is quite adventurous and the warm pallet is pleasing. Throughout the drama the music is prominent. Beautiful words and tunes are very evocative and set the mood especially as the sadder details are revealed. Often the actors are shot in close-up with just the music as their internal reaction to the earlier scene is processed.
The two main actors are mesmerising. The young female He Ran, played by Xu Ruo Han, whilst having her hair washed meets the ML Xiao Han, played by Jerry Yan, and is immediately attracted to him and his deep sexy voice. Thus begins her persistent pursuit of him.
There is more social taboo in their culture around great age differences so even though they become lovers the relationship has many secrets.
I fell for the charismatic Xiao Han, his calmness, deep voice and hidden talents married up with a rocking physique.
The female leads character at times was annoying, however, her actions were in keeping with a young adult that has been secluded away and cossetted and controlled by her fearful mother.
Her mother is a strong, yet damaged character and the offer of a relationship with her much younger coworker is charged with expectation.
The pairings work because of the directing, writing and all the many talented people who finalised and edited the story.
Spoiler: watch the credits for the conclusion.
I want a follow up to these people and their lives I am very invested in their characters.

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The chemistry is through the roof!

I started watching this drama after being recommended to check it out and I was instantly hooked.

This really is a drama straight away goes into the main couples romance. There is quite a big age gap between FL and ML and I'm not gonna deny that it is really noticable. Not only is the FL playful and bold with her flirting, but ther were a few moments where I felt that if FL would have been older, she wouldn't have acted as immature. Whats lacking in the storyline is nonetheless covered by the chemistry between the leads and it is sizzling with passion. There are ALOT of montages where nothing happens in general in the drama (like the main leads just walking around in different clothes) and some plotlines are really inconsistent regarding timing and reality. The whole drama consists probably around 50% of just watching long edited montages of the main actors without any plot and just music, flowers or staring into some corner.

The music, although being quite repetitive, is really good (in my opinion) with a oldschool tropical song that is fantastic (It's the band Grasshopper and the song is called Half Heart or 半點心) and a few ballad songs that are dramatic and where the lyrics goes well with the plotline.

It is quite obvious how all the other characters have been written around the romantic main lead. Towards the latter part of the drama, the melodrama really takes of and everything gets more tangled than it needs to be. In the last few episodes, we start to see more scenes about the FLs mother and the story suddenly starts to shift towards her love story with a younger man in comparison to her daughter (the FL) who has a romance with an older man.

Regarding the open ending, there is an extra scene after the final credits that can be interpreted in different ways.
Honestly, I did not like the ending and feel like it is muddy and unclear.

SPOILER!!
Towards the end, FL who has been slightly sickly suddenly deteriorates and has a health obstacle that leaves the viewer with an open ending. The FL who has had jealous tendencies throughout the story comes off as extremely incompassionate towards her lover when she selfishly declares that he cannot move on if she passes away. The post-credit scene in my opinion is just an imagination or them meeting in the afterlife. Some viewers have expressed that they will interpret the ending as happy because it is just so sad if not.

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THE MUSIC SCORE IS PERFECT!

Jerry and Ruohan does NOT have any chemistry. they're awkward to the point that I find it cringy. If I can post screenshots here, I would to prove it. Ruohan can't handle this daring role, then she shouldn't have been hired for the role. Its an age of youth and an age of passion. I just can't see from her character that she wants to fight to live. It could have been Ruohan's chance to prove how good of an actress she is but its an ultimate fail. She played it TOO SAFE. Does she know how to be a 20yr old who has everything except for maybe a long life? Has she ever chased what she can't have? I WANT TO LIVE AND I'LL MAKE THE MOST OF IT WHILE IT LASTS. Ruohan does not understand the role of Ran. Dare to be bold when given the chance to be paired with a more experienced actor.
Jerry plainly awkward. Why??? When I've seen him play other roles so well.

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