Unique and Special drama with Great acting and appreciation of Chinese Opera
Completed - 7/29/2022Subjective Rating - 8.25-8.5
Objective Rating - 9.0+
“Winter Begonia is a rare treasure that most people probably won’t watch because it doesn’t scream hot young actors in a censored BL romance drama. Chinese Opera + Republican Era + mature male leads + Japanese occupation, do not really translate to instant popularity with the general audience. Growing up, I was NOT a Chinese opera fan myself. That’s why I was hesitant to watch this, despite its glowing reviews from almost everyone. Does this drama make me love Chinese opera? No, not really. But I learned to appreciate all performers’ dedication and hard work to this craft. It’s a beautiful part of Chinese culture that I wish it will continue on forever.
If you don’t love Chinese opera, this might be a difficult drama to watch because it's central to the plot, and there are many opera scenes and singing. But if you are a fan, or you don’t dislike it, you might grow to like it more. I will join the chorus of praises in the production quality of “Winter Begonia”. The opera costumes, accessories, hair and makeup = all top notch. So much effort (and probably research) is put into this.. I also really enjoy all the suits that our male lead, Cheng Feng Tai wore. Not only was he dashing and hot in all his outfits, I really like the subtle pattern and velvety (maybe?) quality of his suits. Shang Xi Rui also wears a variety of cheongsam/changshan, from the more modest white ones to the formal white ones. This might be the only drama I’ve seen all male characters wearing such thick wintery changshan.
The relationship between our two male leads is an interesting one. They are total opposites and it’s quite amazing how they have come to trust, care and ‘love’ each other. I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of sizzling, romantic chemistry between the two. I think the male leads in “Killer and Healer” have much better pure romantic chemistry. In “Winter Begonia’, Cheng Feng Tai and Shang Xi Rui are soulmates, they are more than friends/lovers/family. You can feel their deep affection from each other by the way they look at each other, and also through very casual, everyday conversations. You will not find the typical BL romance or fanservice in this drama.
It’s hard to tell if Cheng Feng Tai really loves his wife. Maybe he only cares for her as family because they have been together for so long. Yet, with the way he looks at her and the physical affection that he displays, he does seem to love her. In the second to last episode, while Cheng Feng Tai is facing danger, his last flashbacks are of his wife. Doesn’t that mean he truly loves her? But then, what about Shang Xi Rui? Does he love them both? Or as I mentioned, Shang Xi Rui is maybe more than merely a lover/partner. I guess that’s for the viewer's own interpretation.
The main reason why I did not give this a 9.0+ rating is because I got bored towards the 2nd half of the drama. The pacing is really good in the first 30 episodes. I enjoy the relationship development of the leads. I also really like the characters in all the opera troupes and see how they train, live together, and fight amongst each other. It was fun to watch the dance-off between Shang Xi Rui and Chen Ren Xiang. I also like the conflicts/politics of the opera troupes, and the respect the veterans receive from opera performers and audience. But when the drama turns political with the Japanese occupation, there’s too much talking and bad accents.. I understand the need for it but it’s not exciting or interesting enough, until the last two episodes. Even though the ending has a very strong political tone, I am interpreting it as a special way for the drama to demonstrate the unique bond between our male leads.
Lastly, you don’t really have to worry about the acting performance of this cast. They are veterans and they know what they’re doing. Big props to Yin Zheng for playing Shang Xi Rui, a multi-layered crazy genius. Huang Xiao Ming is very charismatic as Cheng Feng Tai and he is oh-so fine. I remember really liking him in “Nirvana in Fire 2”. The way he looks at Shang Xi Rui melts my heart. This is my first time seeing Merxat and Li Ze Feng NOT playing mature and sensible roles. I’ve seen them both in previous dramas and their roles here are so different and I’m glad they are taking different roles. As the female lead, Charmaine Sheh holds her own among a strong male cast. She’s wonderful as Fan Xiang Er.
Other Random Observations:
1. Yin Zheng looks quite old in this drama. He’s 9 years younger than Huang Xiao Ming but he doesn’t age as well.
2. Still some minor plot holes - what happened to Cheng Feng Tai’s nephew and brother-in-law in the end?
3. What happened to his little sister?
4. I like the opening theme song; it matches the feel of the drama
5. I appreciate the training that actors went through to perform on stage. Their mouths might not perfectly sync with the singing, but you can still see that they’re mouthing/singing those lyrics.
6. Yin Zheng, Tan Jian Ci and Andy Huang look beautiful playing the ‘dan’.
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Chinese Classical opera life with powerful Bromance story
I was really hesitant to watch this drama but I watched every bromance drama that came out so I must watch this oneI'm not into classic chinese opera to be honest and I thought it would bore me out and it did unfortunately at first they made a twenty episodes or so of how cruel and hard the opera singer's life can be and you can measure it to any Idol's now in some ways ,,, I didn't care much about the opera life to be honest but I cared about How much the first male lead the chinese business man took interest in the opera singer from first sight just because he reminded him of his mother who left him when he was a child ,, he has a trauma about his mother's leaving and when he saw the opera singer dressed as female characters his mother used to play for him he just fell in love and became kind of obsessed but he also liked the man behind the disguise not just the character
It was love definitely love for the opera singer especially when he was wearing the female characters but it was deep friendship when he was himself crazy innocent naive opera singer
I can describe their relationship as soulmates nothing less than that
I find the last ten episodes of the drama are the best Bromance manifestation or the best declaration of love by actions not actual physical or sexual actions ,, no way ,, I find their love pure of any sexuality or lust especially for the opera singer he wasn't interested in sex as It was portrayed ,, and for the Businessman it was complicated but really really deep
he just lived for his best friend then family
I can't say enough about how I feel for this story and it's character
I loved the actors so much especially the first male lead he was so kind , gentle and loving with amazing personality
The opera singer's actor (didn't memorize their names ) was amazing and worked really hard to play such difficult layered insane talented character
Overall I recommend this drama to any one who loves Bromance dramas and can stand watching Classic chinese opera life because it was draggy and boring at first twenty episodes but bearable because of the male leads
Don't worry about the open ending it's satisfying not disappointing ,, it leaves you with hope
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Felt like a dream
I opened an account on mydramalist just so I could write sth about this underwatched series. There were some minor issues in some details which I'll overlook coz those are negligible compared to everything else this series offered. I decided to give it a go after seeing an fmv and reading the plot and I'm glad i did. Idk about others but this one definitely made me appreciate chinese opera and their traditions more. The dialogues kept resonating with me for a long time even after it all ended, the production, aesthetics, visuals and osts were beautiful, the characters were unique, the story and overall environment it projected was amazing and left me in a trance. Rewatch value is high since went back to watch it right after I finished it once and kept watching random clips for the next few weeks . Honestly can't believe how more people won't talk about such a nice series. Fans of aesthetically pleasing period dramas, do give it a try.Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Melancholy and goofy and slashy and fun
I loved this show! Here are some of the great things about it:-Shang Xirui ranging from subtle and highly skilled actor to over-the-top emotional to peevish to childishly amused from moment to moment. I loved every single one of those moods.
-Cheng Fengtai's facial expressions, especially whenever Shang Xirui did something to surprise him.
-Shang Xirui and Cheng Fengtai's many scenes of just eating and drinking together or going for walks in the late evening or talking for hours on end... it's so intimate and lovely and so often a little melancholy, with the sense of longing.
-The operas. The only other show I've seen with Chinese opera as a major plot point is Granting You a Dreamlike Life, but in this show the opera is far more essential to the plot. I loved watching Shang Xirui brainstorm how to stage and perform various shows, various characters, and watching the troop rehearse. I loved each and every performance involved in the show. My one grudge is that sometimes the show would play unrelated music OVER the opera shows during important emotional moments--what's the point??
-Bandits!
-Opera circle petty drama, mostly in the first half of the show.
-Family drama both serious and less so.
Idk everything about this show was basically great. I loved every episode (...except one where a Certain Character died but I won't go into that).
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this underrated gem
this is the best drama i have watched this year and i mean it when i say it because i have been watching dramas like crazy this year and this drama TOPPED THEM ALL. this was beyond my expectations and i am sad that i finished it. i can only think of one bad thing about this drama and it is that its too short! you may say that well, its not short, it is 49 episodes! i hear you and you may be right but this drama makes you feel like 49 isnt enough. it makes you wanting more. i wanted to watch more episodes and i was shocked to see that i was watching the finale episode. i would watch it even it was 100 episodes. it was utterly amazing and brutally heart breaking.shang xirui is probably my new favorite character now and i will miss him a lot. i think i will miss this songs even more. the way he looked at cheng fengtai in the finale episodes pulled my heart strings so much. everything about that episode was pretty, nearly perfect and everyone should watch the alternative ending. i highly recommend this series because it is that good! music is wonderful. storyline is great. characters are unique and realistic. it is 10/10 for me and i dont understand why this isnt popular as other series. i will be reading the novel soon.
go watch it, they will win your heart and you will love them as much as i did.
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The series was a solid 9.0 until around episode 30. This is when the plot takes a turn down soap opera lane a bit. They tried too hard to link everyone into having some type of familial relationship with one another which made it unrealistic with no added value. The other lesser negative is the unrealistic gun fight scenes and the unnecessary slow-motion effects during the other fight scenes. Otherwise, the action blend could have shone more.
Nevertheless, I was drawn in mainly by our two male leads from the very first episode. The contrast and underlying similarities between them created a chemistry that was addictive and fun. Cheng Feng Tai, is the true star here. He was able to portray the complexity of having to transition into multiple faces very well (and admittedly, his dimpled smile is too good). Shang Xi Rui comes as a close runner-up and I really adore the both of them on screen. There were also plenty of witty supporting characters such as Cao Gui Xiu and Du Qi who only added to the charm of the series.
There is a good surface attempt to explain the life route of opera singers, the royal family having fallen, and when Japan began its invasion. But for me personally, having read and seen many films and books that really dive hard into these events, these are just a backdrop to the ultimate love story in this series. And although I can't forgive the suffering Japan caused (read The Rape of Nanking or watch the documentary), I do appreciate that they didn't portray all the people of Japan as willing enemies.
There are some flaws that can't be overlooked with some parts of the plot and some loose ends that were never explained but everything else was done really well including the design set and outfits for the era and the incorporation of a bit of just everything. If there were some physical touch present between the leads (even if just hand-holding), I think it would have upped it by a notch. Although I took off some points for the mentioned factors, let's just say this is one of the series I made the effort to download for keeps.
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a gem of a show, if you have the patience
I almost dropped this show after 6 eps, not because it was bad, but because the pacing was so slow I didn't think I was in the mood. There's a strong 1930's feel in the whole production. The mostly static camera work makes it feel like watching a stage play or an old black & white movie. The music score and the slightly over-the-top Classical Hollywood style acting all combine to produce a complete 1930's vibe. This old-movie style isn't to my taste, but eventually I appreciated the strong performances from all the cast. I recognized many cast that were also in Arsenal Military Academy & Court Lady, & I feel some of the musical score was reused in all 3 shows; it all sounded so similar. In fact, these 3 shows share the same directors.Shang Xi Rui is an opera singer specializing in dan (femaie) roles. He's a naive & eccentric prima dona. But when the troupe hits hard times, he pulls through to lead with compassion, humility, & sincerity (in between the prima dona tantrums). He remains true to his art & his genius as he inspires & motivates his troupe to become the leading opera troupe in Beiping. I'm sure the singing is dubbed but Yin Zheng's mannerisms while in full opera costume are very impressive & he very deftly portrays SXR's growth & setbacks as he encouters new hardships without losing his core values.
2nd Master Cheng FengTai becomes SXR's friend & benefactor after SXR's performance awakens a hidden passion for opera. No idle aristocrat, he actively runs a distribution business (including weapons) & organizes culteral preservation projects. He tries to maintain his marriage by never arguing with his unacknowledged wife, which only feeds her insecurity. Ultimately, she comes through as the backbone of the family. The Cheng household is a busy one with many extended family members connecting 2nd Master to a huge network of government & military officials. This network provides the infrastructure for the complex interplay of family, politics, art, & war throughout the drama. Also, many characters aren't what they seem.
Since watching Lost You Forever S1 I've become a Tan JianCi fan & he was actually the reason I started this show (I didn't realize he was also in Court Lady!). But if you watch just for him, he won't show until Ep11 & is present in fewer than 10 eps. His role may have been very small, but his acting talent is equal to the rest.
Although this show isn't completely my cup of tea, what kept me watching was the character of SXR: intelligent, self-centred but with a heart of gold at the same time, how he could push through the strict boundaries of his art & be successful. The cast was very good at portraying multi-dimensional characters. I also liked the glimpse into the world of Beijing opera & I'm now curious about the stories & what makes a good performance. However, the pacing was either slow or slower, with loose ends left at the end in spite of all the time it took to get there.
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Do not miss this treasure!
Let me keep this review short as many people have shared the opinion about this drama.The watchpoint of Winter Begonia is how the characters unfold their relationships are developed. Not very long into the show, you will fall in love with the two main characters Shang Xi Rui and Cheng Feng Tai, also named Er Ye. Shang Xi Rui is just one of a kind of a character, which is just stubborn, strong, but adorable in so many ways. Especially at the start of the show, you are worried that he does not make another big fuss that Er Ye has to get him out from. At the start, there are only dramas that surround Beijing Opera and Shang Xi Rui's relationship with many others in the Opera circle. Still, later in the show, it also concerns how to protect China's culture against a foreign enemy and our characters' survival.
The friendship between Shang Xi Rui and Cheng Feng Tai is just beautiful. This is another successful adaption of a BL novel: the romance element is not obvious, but the audience can certainly feel that their souls are connected somehow. If it's not for something else, this is one key reason why you should watch this drama.
Besides, there are so many reasons that make the audience continue watching the show: the mix of everyday happiness as well as drama, the beautify of Beijing Opera, the wonderful characters from main to supporting cast. From young cast to elder ones, everyone's performance is top-notch, even the evil ones. No one is just a tool for the story, but they are three-dimensional human beings.
Finally, these delightful wide-angle shots, delicate sets, and detailed costumes show the makers have really put money in the right places. After the show, I became very interested in Beijing Opera and was grateful for this beautiful art form that our Chinese ancestors have left us.
If there is one thing I can improve, it is the part about WWII and the Japanese being the evil that needs to be destroyed. I just cannot help but feel the propaganda. But if I am objective and overlook that side, it is still a wonderful piece of work that no one should miss. I sincerely hope more of these wonderful BL adaptions can be made.
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Highly recommended, high re-watch value
-Amazing CHEMISTRY between the leads-Complex relationships, especially between the male leads, and between them and the wife. Even the side characters are well-developed and nuanced.
-Though often listed as a "BL", this story and the relationships transcend that sort of reductive label. This is kindred spirits of the purest, unbreakable kind
-Actions and decisions always stayed true to the nature of the characters. Emotional without the melodrama.
-Superbly cast
-Gorgeous production, authentic feel
-No unnecessary drama, none of the usual trope-y story-telling. Mature, thoughtful, credible story
-More people ought to watch this, and recommend it to others.
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Nothing less of a Masterpiece!!!!!!
This is not your usual BL/bromance drama. It's the kind of art that goes down in history as one of its kind!!!The actors, the cinematography, the background, the music, and everything else, it was all just perfect. Every single moment of it was captivating for me. And the Chinese operas, my god, they were mesmerizing and Shang Xi Rui stole the show. Meanwhile, Cheng Feng Tai always complemented him so well by being his support 24/7. All throughout the series, they felt like two bodies and one soul. This masterpiece had been on my mind for far too long even after I finished it. I'm so glad I came across this one and fortunately didn't skip it 🥺
Only real art lovers will truly appreciate the worth of this gem 💎✨♥️
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A Beautiful Masterpiece
This was such a masterpiece. I really loved Yin Zheng’s acting here, it was phenomenal. This is Huang Xiao Ming’s best acting so far that I’ve seen. He has shown a lot of acting growth through this drama. Their story really touches every corner of your heart. It made me feel so many feelings, I never knew I was capable of feeling. Cant even tell you, how many poetic and heartbreaking scenes there are in this series. I cried so much watching this, both happy and sad tears. This drama will forever be etched in my heart. I really loved the cinematography it’s definitely top notch. I didn’t know anything about Beijing Opera prior to watching this, but after watching this I am definitely a fan of it. Also, last but not least the OST was amazing! Every time I listen to the OST (Lu Hu - Winter Begonia (鬓边不是海棠红) & Xin - This Life (此生) my heart still hurts. Please give this drama a try you wont regret it. Hopefully, it will also leave a imprint in your heart like it did in mine.Esta resenha foi útil para você?
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worth watching
the acting, the characters and the music are all amazing.it was fun for most of the time. it was very interesting to learn about chinese opera and i found it very beautiful and enjoyable.
the characters are well built, they all have their own story you want to know more about. my favorite character was definitely chen renxiang and i'm still bitter he died because i wanted to see more about him.
it is so pleasing to watch, but at some point the story just goes downhill. there are so many things that aren't explained very well or that just aren't explained at all. the end is kind of disappointing, but i understand that is because it is a bl so yea.
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