The Forbidden Flower (2023)

Jerry Yan fits the character, sexy as hell

The movie was a bit slow is my only negitive review. I love older men, My husband was almost 17 years older than me. Age has nothing to do with love. As this story, my real life was love at first sight. My husband, like Jerry Yan was sexy as hell. I lost him in death 2 years ago. This movie brought back sweet but sad memories. The ending left me hanging and wondering....did she come back after treatments? Was he fantasizing her return but she really died? I prefer a clean cut ending. Over-all this movie had true love and saddness, which is real life. It was sensual.
I don't understand complaints about older age vs younger. When it comes to love, the heart leads you where it desires, it doesn't see age.

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A drama I will NEVER forget...

I usually don't bother with reviews but I had to write one for this drama. I started watching it on impulse after finding out about Jerry Yan starring in it. However, both the actor AND the actress stole the show. I admit the story wasn't the best, a little cliché, but charming nonetheless.

Jerry Yan is like fine wine and the Xu Ruo Han is also very pretty. Both had undeniable chemistry and did their characters Xiao Zhan and He Ran justice. Their intimate scenes gave me so many butterflies T-T

Now...my favorite part...the OSTs! Honestly, I loved all the soundtracks SO SO much, and they matched the context of every scene perfectly! It also featured "Lucid Dream " (English Ver.) from the drama While You Were Sleeping!!

If you're thinking about whether to watch it or not, I'd say please give it a try! There was just something about this drama...I don't think I'll ever forget it.

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Not easy review

It is never easy to do a review on one of your favorite actors' dramas, in this case Kido Ma without biases but I will do my best.... I will be unpopular for some, however i like to think I am a minority, so my opinion is mine only and carries little overall weight.... Ok, I still gave it a high score based that I finished the drama, these days trust me, I dropped just as many as I finish so if I finish the drama deserves a higher score.

What worked in this drama? I think the second lead pairing of the mother and the younger guy worked perfectly. I think the acting by the entire cast worked well..... i think the settings being simple helped!

What lost minimal marks - I think the overall engagement the leads had with the viewers i felt lost marks. This is a just a blue lagoon type romance, but to some degree i felt it watching those movies. I didn't feel it with these leads. Usually, a drama leaves me wanting to see more from actors/actresses, wasn't feeling it.... I have seen plenty of Jerry Yan anyway....

Kido Ma, tough one. Obviously, he didn't win the girl. Did it matter for me as I am a fan of his? Not really....
Was she the girl worth fighting for? My answer is for Jerry Yan 'YES', for Kido Ma 'NO'..... Many people don't know this however these dramas are designed to have no conclusion, to open up the door for more dramas, this drama is perfect example of an incomplete ending which I find 90% of dramas fall into....

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I will start with the ending.... because what was that 😭🤣 I really would have preferred something a little more clear, though I think that it was a sequence. Like he imagined her, she died but she never left his side metaphorically...? I don't know.

Anyway, I watched "Count Your Lucky Stars" and really wasn't a big Jerry Yan fan, but I have to admit that he was really good in this show. He looked super handsome, the long hair suits him well (minus the extra volume though....), and his styling was much better in this show. I thought it was almost comical how he almost doesn't really talk but overall I enjoyed his calm demeanor.

He Ran was a cute girl, but she could be a meanie when she was jealous lmao. I also think that her pursuing Xiao Han was quite.... intense and intolerable at times, she seemed super obsessive and almost stalkerish at times. But the actress did a really great job playing the character. She is youthful and absolutely stunning, conveyed emotions very well and had great chemistry with Jerry Yan! Loved that a lot.

Another thing that was STUNNING was the music as well as the beautiful cinematography. Just for that, the drama is already worth watching. Just stunning to watch in general. The wedding scene in the last episode was also just mesmerizing and beautiful, wow. The actress looked soso pretty in the traditonal costume and the whole ceremony was just filmed so nicely.

I skipped all of the mom's story and love-plot because I didn't care, I also HEAVILY disliked Han Yu. He was so delusional, I don't know why he bothered He Ran all the time. If someone showed disinterest THAT obviously to me, I would just call it a day. He just never read the room....

Overall, this was a surprisingly SPICY (??? omg) show, the acting was great from the leads, but the ending was only so-so for me. Highlights were the female lead's acting, the OST, and the cinematography.

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Sensuality meets spiritual intimacy in Forbidden Flower

A serendipitous encounter in a hair salon, a young woman hears a voice that draws her. A mature man hears a voice that draws him. They don't know each other's faces, but their hearts recognize each other at the first instant.

Youth is determined to seek its happiness, maturity resists in its fear that its soul may be swept away. Eventually this love bursts out strong, with her co-experiencing every precious moment together 'til the moment she leaves him because she is ill and doesn't want to drag him with her. But when fate is determined to bring two people together, it won't stop before bringing them together again. And it all starts again, he forgets that she left him and soaks in every second with her, she forgets that she decided to leave, unable to stop her desire to be with him. And once again her illness separates them. She leaves him abruptly, without warning, and leaves behind the memory of her frail figure, her gentle face, her fragrance, and her voice that speaks his name with awe - Xiao Han. Another half year of separation pain, a torment that is on the verge of being unbearable for both of them. And meeting again, and starting all over again. And the two's decision to stay together until the end, and the hope that she'll beat cancer a second time.

Fate also has a fingers in another story. A forty-something woman who lost her husband to leukemia lives only for her daughter, forgetting that she is a woman. Until a young man stops his gaze on her and challenges her. And here, as in the previous story, youth recognizes no boundaries and adulthood is afraid to dive into its feelings. And here separation, even before their love happens, and here longing.

The whole series is heavily saturated with a sense of subtle eroticism, longing, love, the search for the other, the struggle with the self and an intoxicating sadness. Incredibly well chosen music that immerses you in a gentle sadness, very well shot shots that convey the intimacy of each moment.

Lots of eroticism, lots of intimacy, no vulgarity.
I warn you not to expect too much from the end though. The ending will write itself.

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The most beautiful love story ever

I've watched so may c dramas and this is the best drama Ive ever watched. I also don't write reviews but I love this drama so much that I have to write a review. Everything's perfect. There's no uneccessary misunderstanding and multiple breakups. The love story begins as early as the first 3 episodes. The plot is simple and only centres on the main leads which makes you more invested and doesn't waste time on other things.

The cinematography is so well put together and the music is also good. I Love the location and the scenery.

More importantly, the main leads especially the ML is so handsome and tends to speak more with his actions than words. The FL is also a strong character and also visually appealing.

I wish I could rewatch it for the first time.

In short, please don't hesitate and watch it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Sweet. Romantic. Steamy.

Given the steamy trailers, this drama is surprisingly sweet and full of warmth and charm. The gorgeous coastal scenery and the laidback beach vibe are like a vacation getaway for us the audience. The OSTs are great—some slow and sultry, others fun and upbeat. The actors are all knocking it out of the park. The visuals are top-tier. It’s a pretty drama to watch with its stunning cinematography, stunning native costumes, and stunning people. Jerry Yan’s undeniable sex appeal has us swooning, but his character Xiao Han’s calm demeanor, sincerity and gentleness are what moves our heart. Actress Xu Ruohan’s unwavering confidence in the face of such a seasoned, handsome man and her mastery of the playful character, He Ran, are truly admirable. She’s young, but she’s holding her own well. She unabashedly pursues that gorgeous man. And, the sensible, responsible ML tries to push her away, but he finds himself smiling constantly, involuntarily, at her antics as if he just can’t help succumbing to her charms. We, the audience, can’t either! Their chemistry is both adorable and smoking hot. Really enjoying this! Just disappointed the drama’s final edit deleted some of the hottest and best scenes (ep 9 for example). You can find them if you search hard though.

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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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Usual story but the songs are awesome

It is a love story totally love story and has some emotional scene. They were the songs of the drama and the acting of Jerry yan which hold the story .
I really not understand the female character part as she knew that she was ill then why she forced him to love . I didn't know that she was already ill before meet him or after .
If she was already ill before meet him so it would be better to have one sided love . And if she was ill after meet him so she should tell him but she just left him because she didn't want him to be sad but then why she came to him and spend some days with him and asked for his forgiveness and then after spending a night she left him . Then after one year she came to him and said him that she didn't like if some other woman said his name and she tried to stay beside him , actually what she wants that not clear she wants him or it is better to leave him .
At the end he knew about her illness and accepted her .
Yes ,story has sad ending . Story could be better. I watched this drama because of the male lead and the songs.

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Beautifully shot, incredibly stupid

This is what people who've never been outside think romance is.

Of course it's inappropriate to pair a child with a middle aged man, but the even bigger problem is that their story is BORING. she's chasing him all the way to his village, when all he wants is to be alone and have that beer. she's stalking his work, she gets jealous and possesive in an incredibly immature manner, and this somehow is romantic. wow, sign me up

The only interesting part (hence the 4 stars, otherwise it would be 1 star), is the journey of the mother character. we get to see her protective but overbearing side while dealing with a sick child and the toll it takes on her. how strong she should be to support her daughter and hide all of this from her career. the relationship with the guy is so cute, they meet when she's at her lowest, shamefully shoving chicken in the storage room and he falls in love. cute as hell

TL;DR: the whole show looks stunning, yet it's laughably empty

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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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