The tedium of mortal affairs. How pedestrian it is to dwell on the fleeting concerns of mere mortals. And yet, I find myself drawn to the tale of "Love Ends in Bloom," a pedestrian endeavor indeed, but one that whispers sweet nothings of nostalgia and shared heritage.
It begins with Chang Chen-yu, an executive producer as dull as the grey skies above the mortal realm, returning to his hometown in Chiayi. His thoughts are consumed by memories of Taiwan's forestry and railway history, like so many wisps of smoke drifting aimlessly on the wind. Ah, but what a delightful convergence of circumstances! For it is in this sea of forgetfulness that Chang stumbles upon the essence of "Love Ends in Bloom."
The series, a meandering stream of consciousness, seeks to explore the shifting roles of Asian countries on the global stage. How quaint. How...mortal. Chang's musings are but a mere echo of the whispers that haunt the halls of power, where the great and powerful scheme and plot, their Machiavellian machinations weaving a tapestry of intrigue and deception.
And then, there is Juliana Hsu, screenwriter extraordinaire, with her passion for history burning like a candle in the darkness. Her research is meticulous, her dedication unwavering, as she seeks to position Taiwan within the broader context of East Asian history. Ah, but what a Sisyphean task! For is it not futile to attempt to capture the ephemeral nature of human experience on the canvas of time?
The series itself is a love story, a romance that transcends national and temporal borders, questioning whether "Asia" can be seen as an emotional community within storytelling itself. Ha! What a preposterous notion! For what is "Asia" but a mere geographical designation, a label slapped haphazardly upon the shoulders of a continent? And yet, I find myself drawn to this flighty concept, this wistful longing for connection and understanding.
The directors, Sun Jie-heng from Taiwan and his Japanese counterpart (whom I shall not bother to name, for what is their significance in the grand tapestry of existence?), will lead the charge, their creative juices flowing like the River Styx itself. And when all is said and done, "Love Ends in Bloom" will be released upon the world, a paltry offering to the gods of fleeting mortality.
Ah, but what a delightful distraction from the crushing weight of eternity!
Written by: Obscuria Noiré | The Citizen Edition
“Deathly delightful”