minj99
Definitely not another Gong Hyo-jin Rom-Com
Comedy is not what will be remembered about When the Camellia Blooms. Although that seems obvious based on the plot synopsis (single mother, serial killer, etc.), I expected something similar to Gong Hyo-jin’s previous works, and I was glad that WtCB was not. I am not a huge fan of GHJ, especially her comedic timing, and seeing her in this drama is a pleasant surprise. Funny moments still dot this drama, but its main draws are the looming mystery thriller and its emotional punches.
With a veteran cast & crew and solid production quality, the drama executes its plot cleanly, mostly. The beginning exposition is a little messy with the introduction of the mystery plotline and the romance plotline, but WtCB finds its footing. However, I find the messy beginning more captivating than the polished execution of the middle and ending. The tension in the drama dissipates a little too quickly given its long buildup, and I am left wanting more.
Story:
There are 2 main stories in When the Camellia Blooms, the mystery and the “drama”, and the romance and comedy both take a back seat. The 20-episode format gives the mystery and drama ample time to develop, but due to their poor integration, it results in an uneven pace. Throughout it all, romance and comedy still peak their heads, like a familiar, friendly reminder.
The characters in the drama are much better written than the plot, and they remain relatable even as a serial killer lurks in their town. In particular, the development of minor characters stands out, especially Noh Gyu Tae and Jessica. The way these two characters are made endearing throughout WtCB shows its excellent character drama.
Acting:
Furthermore, Gong Hyo-Jin has said in an interview that Dong Baek is a character who she could not pass on to another actress. The role really challenges GHJ to portray a vulnerable person putting herself out there. It relies less on comedic timing and more on emotional delivery, and GHJ shows she does not need comedy to create relatable characters.
The supporting cast is also stellar, and the trio of GHJ with the 2 male leads bring all the different plotlines together. Kang Ha-Neul excels as he bounces from the different plotlines, all while bringing his comedy chops (even while solving a murder!). And as mentioned earlier, even the minor characters get their moments to shine throughout, and the interaction between all the characters had me tuning in week by week.
Music:
The music also consistently delivers week by week. It trends towards the typical kballad genre but employs a group of talented singers. I look forward to giving the OST and soundtrack a re-listen. Shoutout to Punch who has killed it with drama OSTs in 2019 (plus she has a popular OST in another GHJ drama, “It's Okay, That’s Love”). And, I will never say no to more songs by Heize.
Rewatch Value:
As much as I love the lesser known hits in kdramaland, credit is due to the major networks and their products. They bring in starpower and have the capacity to cover all the facets of drama making. It results in 10+% ratings rarely achieved by the smaller cable networks, but it can be difficult to determine whether that was because of quality or mass-marketing/appeal. As far as WtCB is concerned, it is an enjoyable watch and better than most other 2019 major network productions (like “Angel’s Last Mission: Love”).
With a veteran cast & crew and solid production quality, the drama executes its plot cleanly, mostly. The beginning exposition is a little messy with the introduction of the mystery plotline and the romance plotline, but WtCB finds its footing. However, I find the messy beginning more captivating than the polished execution of the middle and ending. The tension in the drama dissipates a little too quickly given its long buildup, and I am left wanting more.
Story:
There are 2 main stories in When the Camellia Blooms, the mystery and the “drama”, and the romance and comedy both take a back seat. The 20-episode format gives the mystery and drama ample time to develop, but due to their poor integration, it results in an uneven pace. Throughout it all, romance and comedy still peak their heads, like a familiar, friendly reminder.
The characters in the drama are much better written than the plot, and they remain relatable even as a serial killer lurks in their town. In particular, the development of minor characters stands out, especially Noh Gyu Tae and Jessica. The way these two characters are made endearing throughout WtCB shows its excellent character drama.
Acting:
Furthermore, Gong Hyo-Jin has said in an interview that Dong Baek is a character who she could not pass on to another actress. The role really challenges GHJ to portray a vulnerable person putting herself out there. It relies less on comedic timing and more on emotional delivery, and GHJ shows she does not need comedy to create relatable characters.
The supporting cast is also stellar, and the trio of GHJ with the 2 male leads bring all the different plotlines together. Kang Ha-Neul excels as he bounces from the different plotlines, all while bringing his comedy chops (even while solving a murder!). And as mentioned earlier, even the minor characters get their moments to shine throughout, and the interaction between all the characters had me tuning in week by week.
Music:
The music also consistently delivers week by week. It trends towards the typical kballad genre but employs a group of talented singers. I look forward to giving the OST and soundtrack a re-listen. Shoutout to Punch who has killed it with drama OSTs in 2019 (plus she has a popular OST in another GHJ drama, “It's Okay, That’s Love”). And, I will never say no to more songs by Heize.
Rewatch Value:
As much as I love the lesser known hits in kdramaland, credit is due to the major networks and their products. They bring in starpower and have the capacity to cover all the facets of drama making. It results in 10+% ratings rarely achieved by the smaller cable networks, but it can be difficult to determine whether that was because of quality or mass-marketing/appeal. As far as WtCB is concerned, it is an enjoyable watch and better than most other 2019 major network productions (like “Angel’s Last Mission: Love”).
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