9 Reasons To Watch Gender-Bender Wuxia BL "Meet You At The Blossom"

A lot of new BL series are airing right now, but there’s nothing quite like wuxia drama “Meet You at the Blossom.” The Jin family’s spoiled and flirtatious son Jin Xiao Bao (Wang Yun Kai) falls at first sight for who he thinks is a beautiful, martial-arts-fighting girl, only to find out that it’s actually a cold-hearted man named Zong Zheng Huai En (Leslie Li), who harbors an ulterior motive.

As Huai En gets more intertwined in Xiao Bao’s life, problems start unfolding in the thriving Jin home, changing both Huai En’s and Xiao Bao’s fates forever. Things never go as planned when the supposed-to-be-bad guy starts catching feelings!

Here are nine reasons to start watching “Meet You at the Blossom” if you aren’t already convinced:

Warning: Light spoilers from episodes 1-7 below.

1. It’s China’s first uncensored wuxia BL

There’s no denying that the BL genre has grown so much in recent years, and it’s really evident with a milestone drama like “Meet You at the Blossom,” which is considered the first uncensored wuxia BL. Wuxia is a Chinese fiction genre that focuses on martial arts in ancient China. Sounds pretty cool, right? Well, it definitely is.

guzhufuren

guzhufuren

Beloved series like “The Untamed” and “Word of Honor” rank among the most popular wuxia dramas that are pretty much unanimously considered BL, even though they are censored. So for BL fans of the genre, having an uncensored, labeled-as-a-BL wuxia drama is a big accomplishment, and it creates hope for more in the future.

2. BL isn’t the plot

This is certainly a BL, but it’s so much more than that. There’s a big allure to the wuxia genre, including amazingly intricate period outfits, martial arts scenes with beautiful choreography, the intriguing atmosphere of ancient China, and common themes like espionage, betrayal, secret romances, and double identities.

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guzhufuren

This being the case, it may be a great first BL to introduce newbies to the BL genre. Even with the BL label, it’s no different than other wuxia dramas (meaning it’s just as awesome), so don’t be afraid to give it a try if you’re new to BL.

3. The ethereal outfits and fight scenes

A shout-out to the outfits of wuxia dramas must be made. It really does seem like ancient China was a fashion show because the outfits are just wow. Combine that with cool fighting scenes and martial arts moves, and it’s really just pure art.

It’s no surprise Xiao Bao fell in love with Huai En after watching him wearing a veiled hat and white ensemble while fighting off masked enemies in the forest. It makes total sense why Xiao Bao literally calls Huai En a “fairy.”

shenzhiheng

shenzhiheng

shenzhiheng

Another favorite is Xiao Bao’s gold necklace, which jingles everywhere he goes. Because of his mischievous, goofy character, it wouldn’t be surprising if his parents gifted him the necklace to keep track of him. Xiao Bao definitely gives off golden retriever energy. The hairpieces the characters wear—especially Xiao Bao and Huai En—are also stunning.

4. Xiao Bao’s golden heart

At first, Xiao Bao comes off as your typical overly flirtatious rich kid with his own family mansion and bodyguards to boast. His pockets seem endless, and he isn’t afraid to throw his wealth around. But once he meets Huai En, he gradually becomes someone honest and devoted to the person he loves.

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Not only this, but his undying loyalty to his family and people, even in the face of hardship and pain, is really admirable. Xiao Bao has both a sweet, silly side and a serious, determined side. He’s a loving son, good friend, and a devoted partner. Who wouldn’t root for him?

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5. The push for open-mindedness to BL

While there are still many characters who struggle to accept the romantic relationship between Xiao Bao and Huai En, there are also many characters who are understanding and supportive of their love. For some, it takes time to understand, but seeing that sort of growth is also great.

guzhufuren

guzhufuren

The real MVP of this is none other than lover boy himself, Xiao Bao. It’ll warm your heart when Xiao Bao sticks up for his love and says there is nothing wrong with loving another man. Considering the setting and time period, Xiao Bao’s determination is amazing. It’s also what slowly breaks down Huai En’s cold exterior.

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nick-nellson

nick-nellson

6. It’s secretly a comedy show

Besides all the fighting, family drama, secrets, and, you know, death, this show is actually so funny. Seriously. One of the funniest parts of the show is Xiao Bao mistaking Huai En for a woman, which prompts Huai En to reluctantly play along, but not without a few side eyes and dramatic exits from being so annoyed. Besides changing his outfits, Huai En barely has to make an effort to pretend because Xiao Bao is so smitten.

smittenskitten

smittenskitten

smittenskitten

At one point, Xiao Bao even confidently says, “This girl is really different.” Little does he know that he has never been more right. The fact that just about everyone else also blindly agrees that Huai En is a woman makes it all the more hilarious. Xiao Bao’s helpless but loyal bodyguard friends also add some comedic relief in between the drama.

7. …but also a sad tearjerker

Not to immediately contradict the previous point, but this show really has it all. There are also painful and sad moments in the drama where you’ll need your tissues. Families are misplaced, people are betrayed and used, lies are revealed, and characters are sometimes in actual physical pain. “Meet You at the Blossom” is a rollercoaster of emotions but totally worth the ride.

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8. The bad guy vs. good guy love triangle

Love triangles with a “good guy” and a “bad guy” might be a drama dilemma as old as time. In this case, Huai En is the icy bad boy of the story, and it looks like he will have competition. Also joining the race for Xiao Bao’s affection is Su Yin (Li Jun Liang), Xiao Bao’s longtime friend.

Though Su Yin has acted as more of an older brother figure in Xiao Bao’s life so far, he seems to care for Xiao Bao as more than a brother. Besides always fighting for Xiao Bao and protecting him, Su Yin has also lent a shoulder to cry on and listens to his worries. With Huai En showing jealousy whenever he sees or hears about Su Yin, maybe he knows something could be there too.

If we’re talking about the rainbow (wink, wink), Huai En is the red flag with a redeemable heart, while Su Yin is the wholesome green flag with lots of potential.

thisautistic

thisautistic

9. It’s only 12 episodes

If you know wuxia dramas, or Chinese dramas in general, 12 episodes may come as a surprise to you. Wuxia dramas are almost always twice, if not more, the length of typical dramas (think 40-50 episodes).

While longer dramas are great in their own right, sometimes it’s nice to have the same quality in a smaller package. Thankfully, “Meet You at the Blossom” is only 12 episodes, so whether you want to space it out and watch an episode a week or binge it in one sitting, it’s the perfect length.

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source: Soompi