When the Camellia Blooms: The Best-Romantic K-Drama Series I Have Watched
If there’s one Korean drama I truly wanted to rewatch, it would be this. When the Camellia Blooms, or WTCB, is a series full of love, compassion, and history. No one really tried to recommend this series to me. It just so happened that I ran out of K-dramas to watch since we are in quarantine. Fortunately, I found a gem in this masterpiece that will forever be in my heart.
Just to give you a synopsis, WTCB is a story of a single mom, Dong-baek, who is trying to make a life for her son. She built her own bar named Camellia, in the small town of Ongsan. She became the neighborhood’s gossip and met challenges along the way. This includes a town’s serial killer named Joker, who puts threats on her bar from time to time. However, a police officer, Yong-sik, chose to pursue and protect her and her son, Pil-gu. Due to its comforting ambiance and excellent character portrayals, this series is like a breath of fresh air.
Storyline and Plot twists
When The Camellia Blooms’ genre is a light romantic comedy thriller. It has an easy-to-follow storyline, and the twists will not confuse you so much. While watching, you can actually be like a detective that can predict who among the characters died. The suspicious threats of Joker are also a reason that makes the drama more suspenseful. Lastly, the romantic scenes of Yong-sik and Dong-baek will remind you of love with pure intentions.
Character Portrayals
Gong Hyo-jin, who portrayed the role of Dong-baek, is a well-known Korean actress. Her movie and drama portrayals were popular because of her professional acting skills. Her role in this drama did captivate the hearts and sympathy of viewers. On the other hand, a big round of applause to Kang Ha-neul, as well, for portraying the role of Yong-sik. Yong-sik is one of the sweetest guys you will ever encounter in K-drama. His pure intentions with a bit of awkwardness toward Dong-baek and Pil-gu, were very well portrayed. His words were simple, yet will stick in your mind, and will leave you smiling for a day. The whole neighborhood will also give you various impressions. You will realize that every character in this movie is perfect for their given roles.
Movie Setting
Different from other Korean dramas, this series is not set in Seoul, but rather in a province. It is in Ongsan, a small town where marinated crabs are popular. The place is near the sea, where you can appreciate the beauty of nature, especially sunsets. The stalls in the street will also let you visualize what provinces in Korea look like, differing from tall and modern buildings in Seoul. Overall, the setting is full of colors, making the drama more vibrant and pleasing to the eye.
As a K-drama fan, I would really recommend When The Camellia Blooms. Aside from love and compassion, the series also tackles social issues like single parenting. A lot of small details in the drama can have a great lesson for everyone. Try watching this drama, and who knows? This may be one of your favorites, too.
