Hu Ge as Ah Bao in Blossoms ShanghaiImage via The Criterion Channel
By
Therese Lacson
Published 34 minutes ago
Therese Lacson is a Senior TV Editor who has been with Collider since 2021. She got started in this business over ten years ago working primarily as an interviewer and critic. At Collider, she works closely with the features team to support the writers and also ideates and develops content daily. She has covered major industry events including Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival, and San Diego Comic-Con. Although she reviews and covers both film and television, her focus is in television and her expertise is in fantasy and sci-fi genre shows. Her favorite shows to cover include House of the Dragon, Bridgerton, Fallout, 9-1-1, and Rivals.
Sign in to your Collider account
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
25 years ago, Wong Kar-wai stunned the world when he released In the Mood for Love, a masterpiece of filmmaking that brought an artistic vision to life in sumptuous color and became one of the greatest movies of all time. Since then, Wong has released four more projects, though the quality of his storytelling has seen a gradual decline. (You might credit much of that genius to longtime collaborator and cinematographer Christopher Doyle; when Doyle stopped working with him, it felt like a bit of Wong's artistic light was diminished.) Beginning in 2013, however, Wong embarked on a new medium, one that he's never attempted before: television.
After almost a decade of production, his newest project, known as Blossoms Shanghai (aka 繁花), is the director's grand return. The original series streamed on Tencent Video in China and was released back in December 2023, but the show is now available for U.S. viewers on the Criterion Channel. It's clear Wong's heart is in this story, which throws audiences into the world of 1990s Shanghai at the height of its economic boom, and the series feels personal in a way few of his other projects do. Its heavy use of the Shanghainese dialect — which has been in decline for the last 70 years — makes the series stand out from most of the projects coming out of Mainland China. Combined with Wong's star power, the shine and glamor of Blossoms Shanghai almost manage to overcome its flaws.
Wong Kar-Wai's Directorial Style Is Clear, but 'Blossoms Shanghai' Stumbles With Storytelling
Hu Ge as Ah Bao in Blossoms ShanghaiImage via The Criterion Channel
There's a big difference when it comes to pacing a two-hour movie and a 30-episode series — which is what Blossoms Shanghai is (although only six were provided for review). 30 episodes is a number unheard of these days in Hollywood, but still rather common in Asia for television. However, while Wong's stylistic touch remains prominent, giving the series an artistic flair that isn't often seen in episodic shows from China, the story is where Blossoms Shanghai struggles. Writer Qin Wen weaves an intricate tale with a colorful cast of characters, but it's clear that the narrative is missing something special.
Wong's best films have been directed, written, and produced by him. Granted, he's gained a seriously bad reputation for being a nightmare to work with, but the end product has always been high art. Blossoms Shanghai can't begin to measure up to those movies. And while it might be unfair to compare a television series to a film, it often feels like Wong's vision has been diluted by a bloated story that focuses too much on setup and adhering to a more standard television formula.
There are still those quiet moments where Wong's camera lingers on his protagonist, Ah Bao (Hu Ge), and the storm of emotions behind his eyes, but those are few and far between. Instead, Blossoms Shanghai leans closer to shows like Boardwalk Empire or Peaky Blinders rather than In the Mood for Love. Much of the time spent in the early episodes involves setting the stage for Ah Bao to take over Huanghe Road, a buzzing business and entertainment district in Shanghai. Playing the stock market, negotiating with business owners, and delicately balancing spinning plates while trying to climb the ladder is compelling to watch, but there are just too many storylines being juggled simultaneously. The central plot merely revolves around watching Ah Bao's capitalist dreams come true as he makes his meteoric climb. As a result, Blossoms Shanghai lacks the tenderness and heartache that so often permeates Wong's other stories, and when the show gets mired in semantics, it can be almost tedious to watch.
'Blossoms Shanghai's Cast Contains Some of the Series' Greatest Gems
Though the technical dialogue can be tiring, the actors still manage to sell it with enough verve to keep your attention. Hu is fantastically debonair as Ah Bao, a scrappy and shrewd businessman who has gone from the lowest point to becoming one of the most influential men in Shanghai. Dressed in slick and perfectly tailored suits, he's the striking image of a typical Wong Kar-wai hero. Hu might not yet have reached the brooding perfection of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai's Chow Mo-wan, but his charm and cunning make him a character we want to root for.
But it's not merely Hu that shines on screen. Around Ah Bao are three women who all serve different purposes to him. Ling Zi (Ma Yili) is one of his closest confidantes and runs the restaurant Night Tokyo on Huanghe Road. She's exacting and clever, and Bao acts as the co-owner of her restaurant. Bao's right-hand woman is Miss Wang (Tiffany Tang), an effervescent girl who works at the foreign trade building, often running errands for Bao and acting as a voice box for him when he's not around. Opposing them is the newcomer, Li Li (Xin Zhilei), a mysterious and beautiful restaurateur who makes over a new restaurant on Huanghe Road that brings in new business and intrigue. Ma, Tang, and Xin all deliver strong performances, especially when paired across from Hu. However, it's Miss Wang's bright and bubbly personality that plays as the perfect foil off of Bao's more sober and serious façade. Li Li, as a competitor and sometimes rival to Bao, is almost superhumanly beautiful and clever. Coming in as an outsider — as one of the few who do not speak Shanghainese — she quickly dominates the business scene and becomes one of the most enigmatic characters of the series.
Related
Did You Know Wong Kar-wai’s ‘In the Mood For Love’ Has a Sci-Fi Sequel?
Even more yearning!
Posts By Daniel Cruse Jun 23, 2024While these three actresses deserve their flowers, the actual powerhouse of the series is You Benchang's Ye Shu, who could easily become a fan favorite as a father figure and mentor to Bao. Carrying the wisdom of his age, Ye Shu acts as Bao's compass, guiding him in the proper direction with his business ventures and teaching him hard lessons when he deems it necessary. You's performance is one of the best, especially in the moments when the old man becomes contemplative, and his sage words of advice end up being just what Bao needs to succeed. While Bao schemes and runs around Shanghai trying to make his deals work, Ye Shu operates from his penthouse suite and keeps a close and shrewd eye on everyone. He is, far and away, one of the most interesting presences on screen.
'Blossoms Shanghai' Is Visually Stunning, but It's Far From Perfect
One of the things that Blossoms Shanghai highlights is the very city of Shanghai, which has long had a cosmopolitan reputation, and the series indulges in this. If there's anything that is flawless about this project, it's the representation of Shanghai at this pivotal time in Chinese history. With money pouring into the city thanks to the opening of the stock market, the lush extravagance mixed with neon lights and colorful characters turns Shanghai into a character all its own. Set on the historic Huanghe Road, the recreated design of this iconic locale is simply stunning to behold. It's a pity to know that this version of the city no longer exists, and seeing it dazzle on the screen is sure to have folks longing for the neon lights and hustle and bustle of the Shanghai of the past.
On top of that, there's the use of dialect; it can't be overstated how important it is that this series is primarily in Shanghainese. It offers an authenticity that often goes missing when a series or a film is dubbed over in Mandarin. While the Tencent stream has a Mandarin dubbing, the Criterion version is in the original dialect as Wong intended. As someone who grew up with the dialect, hearing it at home and from family members, it's rare to see it popping up in media. It offers a strong dose of nostalgia, as does the care taken to highlight Shanghainese cuisine and its particular local culture that is unique to the city.
That being said, while the visuals of the series are a marvel, its presentation is still lacking. The cinematography is a far cry from the standard we're used to with Wong Kar-wai, and its sleeker production loses some of the grit that feels necessary for a story like this. On top of that, Blossoms Shanghai is chock-full of boisterous characters who often border on caricature. The fact is that there's simply too much to handle; it feels like some aspects have fallen through the cracks in the pursuit of the greater goal of bringing this vision to life.
Between dense dialogue and inconsistencies in filming, Blossoms Shanghai is flawed. It's not a masterpiece, and, honestly, the project has caused more headaches for Wong than it's likely worth, but that doesn't mean it's bad. In fact, what makes it good, especially as it ramps up its plot and starts to bring all its players into the main narrative, far overshadows the problems permeating the series. For lovers of Wong's work, don't go in expecting perfection, but prepare to experience a side of China and Shanghai that you've likely never seen before, presented with authenticity that we likely won't ever see again.
The first three episodes of Blossoms Shanghai premiere tonight at 8 PM E.T. on The Criterion Channel, with three episodes dropping every subsequent week through January.
7
10
Blossoms Shanghai
Blossoms Shanghai delivers a stunning but flawed vision of Shanghai.
Like Drama History Romance Release Date 2023 - 2024-00-00 Network CCTV-8, Tencent Video Directors Wong Kar-wai Writers Qin WenCast
See All-
Hu Ge
Mrs Lin
-
Ma Yili
Chef Kam
Blossoms Shanghai is a Chinese television series set in the 1990s, following the life of a self-made entrepreneur navigating through the economic and social transformation of Shanghai. Directed by Wong Kar-Wai, the series explores themes of ambition, love, and betrayal, offering an intricate portrayal of its protagonist's journey amid the city's rapid modernization.
Genres Drama, History, Romance Creator(s) Jin Yucheng, Wong Kar-wai Expand Collapse Pros & Cons- The production of the sets of Blossoms Shanghai are flawless, bringing to life a 90s Shanghai full of color and life.
- Hu Ge, Tiffany Tang, and You Benchang are standout performers in the series, each delivering a unique character for the story.
- The pacing of the series starts off slow and often gets mired in technical dialogue about money and stocks.
- The series is a bit too sleek, lacking a strong artistic flair that we've come to know from Wong Kar-wai.
-
Criterion Channel
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation emailThis thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
20 hours ago
‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ Just Confirmed the One Weapon That Can Ultimately Kill Pennywise
23 hours ago
The 10 Greatest Crime Thrillers of the Last 25 Years, Ranked
5 hours ago
Hugh Jackman Breaks Silence on Whether Wolverine Will Appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
4 hours ago
One of the Best Sci-Fi Horror Shows You’ll Ever Watch Finally Drops a Long-Awaited Season 4 Update
More from our brands
35 Top Manhwa You Need To Read
25 Best Isekai Manhwa
Best Anime Based On Manhwa, Ranked
The Best Shojo Anime Of All Time, Ranked (April 2025)
The 20 Best Manhwa for Fans of Romance
30 Must-Read Boys' Love Manhua For BL Fans
25 Years Ago, This 10/10 Drama Came Out & Started An Unofficial Trilogy
What To Watch
July 20, 2025
The 72 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Trending Now
34 Years Ago Today, a Rock Legend Passed Away — But He Left Behind the Greatest Rock Song of All Time
New Taylor Sheridan ‘Yellowstone’ Spin-Off Trailer Puts Kayce Dutton in the Line of Fire
George R.R. Martin’s Easy-to-Binge Fantasy Series Scores Big on Streaming
