Love Blossoms
Encyclopedia
Love Blossoms was the sixth long-running drama produced by Singapore
's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp TV Channel 8
. Part 1 was aired from 28 May 2008 to 15 August 2008. Part 1 consisted of 58 episodes. Part 2, consisting of 55 episodes, aired from 2 December 2008 to 9 February 2009.
Supporting Cast
Minor Characters
Cameos
Dashun has been estranged from his eldest daughter Linglan (Constance Song) ever since he personally sent her to a drug rehabilitation centre when she was 18. The rebellious Linglan did not return home after her release. She gave birth to a daughter Yiling and after her boyfriend abandoned her, both begin living with a bookie Lu Gua (Chen Tianwen) who often looks for opportunities to violate Yiling (Chen Chuxuan).
Yiling becomes good friends with Dashun by coincidence and through this Linglan is reunited with her father. Linglan is indifferent to Dashun's good intentions to make things up to her. Lu Gua on the other hand takes advantage of Dashun's guilt to reap benefits out of him.
Qingxiong instigates Kaiwang to get a second wife overseas to bear him a son. Kaiwang is tempted and his indecisiveness causes Zijing to leaves home. While trying to win her back, Kaiwang discovers that she is an incorrigible gambler and even owes huge debts to loan-sharks. In a fit of anger, Kaiwang suggests a divorce and insisted that she quit her habit before reuniting with him.
Qingxiong uses Kaiwang's name to operate a match-making agency. With that as a front, Qingxiong encourages his clients to source for second wives overseas and even organizes lustful escapades for his male clients. Kaiwang, too distracted and depressed with his family problems, leaves the business in Qingxiong's care. Unbeknownst to him, what Qingxiong is doing is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode…
Dashun sells his nursery to American-born Chinese Ma Daji (Zhang Yaodong) to clear Zijing's gambling debts. Knowing nothing about nursery operation, he is manipulated by Haitong into signing a contract which not only provides flowers to her company at a low price but also hires Dashun at an exorbitant salary. Daji is helpless when he realizes that he has been taken advantage of.
When Haitong discovers that Zipeng is two-timing her, she gives up the relationship and business to return to the nursery. Her determination and enthusiasm changes Daji's perception of her. As the nursery's business grows under their cooperation, so do their affections for each other. Daji's parents decide to venture into the China market and suggest that he sell off the nursery to join them in their business. Daji hopes that Haitong would ask him to stay but she does not want to use their relationship to tie Daji down. Dejected, Daji leaves for China.
to act in a drama, she inadvertently offends a popular actress Xu Yanning (May Phua) who makes things difficult for her. Wenzhu's conflict with Yanning and her close friendship with image consultant Wang Zhigang (Ben Yeo) become a talking point for the media. Worried that her public image will be affected, Wenzhu distants herself from Zhigang, unaware that he has already fallen in love with her. When the media brands him as a sissy and even gay, Wenzhu breaks off their friendship for the sake of her career.
Dashun realizes he also has a son Wenhao (Terence Cao) from his affair with Liang Miaochang (Hong Huifang) 20 years ago. Miaochang eventually married Yu Dongcheng (Huang Wenyong) and lied that Wenhao is her foster son. Both have a daughter Meiwei (Eelyn Kok). Unhappy with her marriage, Miaochang furthers her studies overseas, leaving Wenhao and Meiwei in Dongcheng's care. When Miaochang returns and realizes that Wenhao has not been well taken care of by Dongcheng, she decides to acknowledge Wenhao and bring him back to Australia.
Lu Gua's henchmen come to seek revenge on Wenhao, injuring Wenzhu accidentally. The injury leaves her with a clot in her brain which causes her severe headaches and affecting her acting career greatly. The once-cheerful girl retreats into seclusion.
(To be continued in Season 2)
(Source: Channel 8 official website)
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp TV Channel 8
MediaCorp TV Channel 8
MediaCorp Channel 8 is a 24-hour free-to-air Mandarin Chinese general entertainment television channel in Singapore...
. Part 1 was aired from 28 May 2008 to 15 August 2008. Part 1 consisted of 58 episodes. Part 2, consisting of 55 episodes, aired from 2 December 2008 to 9 February 2009.
Cast
- Chen ShuchengChen Shucheng-Acting:Chen joined Mediacorp, then known as Radio Television Singapore , as an actor in 1971. Since then he has portrayed many different roles ranging from the young nerdy doctor in The Awakening, a rich flirting playboy in Pretty Faces to the strict and unbending father in Love at 0°C .-Life...
as Tao Dashun - Ivy Lee as Tao Zijing
- Felicia ChinFelicia ChinFelicia Chin Foon Ling , also known by her Chinese stage name Chen Jingxuan, is a Singaporean television actress.-Biography:...
as Tao Haitong - Zheng GepingZheng Geping-Career:Zheng, a former chef, became a full-time actor in 1987 after completing the 7th Professional Drama Performers' Training Course, and had been given mostly supporting roles. His hard work finally paid off at the Star Awards 2007 ceremony when he won the Best Actor award for his role in Like...
as Yun Kaiwang - Constance Song as Tao Linglan
- Koh Yah Hwee as Tao Wenzhu
- Terence CaoTerence CaoTerence Cao is a Singaporean Chinese MediaCorp television actor.-Biography:Cao was educated at Anglo-Chinese School in Singapore. Prior to joining SBC in 1989, Cao worked as a flight attendant...
as Yu Wenhao - Zhang YaodongZhang YaodongZhang Yaodong is a Singapore actor. Yaodong entered the entertainment circle after joining Star Search in 1999. He was a model and had done various commercials before joining Mediacorp. He made his small screen debut in the ever popular sitcom, Don't Worry, Be Happy VI. He has also been awarded...
as Ma Daji Machi - Chen TianwenChen TianwenChen Tianwen is a Singaporean actor who made his debut in the 1984 show Youth . He stands 1.73m tall and weighs 67 kg...
as Lu Gua
Supporting Cast
- Adam ChenAdam ChenAdam Chen is a Chinese Singaporean television and film actor.-Biography:Chen is a civil engineering graduate and was offered a contract to join MediaCorp before his graduation. Before becoming an actor on MediaCorp Channel 8, Chen worked as a model for numerous print and television commercials in...
as Guo Zipeng - Ben Yeo as Wang Zhigang
- Patricia MokPatricia MokPatricia Mok is a Chinese Singaporean actress, best known for humorous roles on Comedy Nite during her stint as a JTEAM artiste. Patricia Mok has established herself as a competent host and a versatile actress, having bagged the Best Supporting Actress Award in Star Awards 2003 for playing a dowdy...
as Yun Caixia - Rayson TanRayson TanRayson Tan is a Singaporean MediaCorp actor.Before joining MediaCorp, Tan worked as a flight attendant with Singapore Airlines. In 1990, he emerged as the 2nd Runner-Up in Singapore's Star Search talent competition...
as Kang Qingxiong - Priscelia ChanPriscelia ChanPriscelia Chan is a Chinese Singaporean MediaCorp television actress and host who works on Channel 8 and Channel 5.-Biography:...
as Ruan Erbo - Eelyn KokEelyn Kok-Career:Eelyn started out playing supporting roles in her starting years. She had two Best Supporting Actress nominations, in 2008 and 2009. In 2009, Eelyn starred in My Buddy as the first female lead. She starred as Huang Jinhao, 2nd female lead in Channel 8 Blockbuster drama, Together opposite...
as Yu Meiwei - May Phua as Xu Yanning
- Darren Lim as Huang Yezu
- Huang WenyongHuang WenyongHuang Wenyong is a Malaysia-born Chinese Singaporean actor who has appeared in many Chinese drama Series, and is best known by his own generation for his appearance in The Awakening and The Seletar Robbery...
as Yu Dong Cheng - Jin Yin Ji as Su Bao Zuan
- Ng HuiNg HuiNg Hui is a Singaporan television actress. She is best known for her award-winning role as 'Tao Jie' in The Little Nyonya....
as Gu Xiaolei - Chen Chuxuan as Lu Yiling
- Hong HuifangHong HuifangHong Huifang is a veteran Singaporean actress. She was known for her roles in dramas such as Samsui Women and she won Best Supporting Actress award in the annual Star Awards ceremony twice - in 1997 and 2006 .She married fellow actor Zheng Geping in 1993 and they have two...
as Yu Miaochang - Lin MeijiaoLin MeijiaoLin Meijiao 林梅娇 is a Singaporean television actress.-Bio:Lin is a consummate artiste who has acted in many drama serials. This thespian was also awarded the Best Supporting Actress at the 1995 Shanghai International Film Festival for her role in the drama serial Silk Of Love.Her congenial and...
as Pan Qiulian
Minor Characters
- Chen Huihui as Nancy
- Damus Lim as Jason
- Grace NG as Yun Feifei
- Melody Chen as Amy
- Hong Guotuo as Wang Fa
- Renfred Ng as Zhiyang
- Wang YuqingWang YuqingJeffrey Tan Chooi Leong, better known as Wang Yuqing, is a Singaporean actor, most known for his role in The Flying Fish , which catapulted him to stardom...
as Wang Zhonghui (Anthony)
Cameos
- Pornsak as Himself
Guilt of the Father
Widower Tao Dashun (Chen Shucheng) runs a floral nursery business Tao Garden . He has four daughters; however, he is not expressive with his affections and his daughters become very distant from him as they grow up.Dashun has been estranged from his eldest daughter Linglan (Constance Song) ever since he personally sent her to a drug rehabilitation centre when she was 18. The rebellious Linglan did not return home after her release. She gave birth to a daughter Yiling and after her boyfriend abandoned her, both begin living with a bookie Lu Gua (Chen Tianwen) who often looks for opportunities to violate Yiling (Chen Chuxuan).
Yiling becomes good friends with Dashun by coincidence and through this Linglan is reunited with her father. Linglan is indifferent to Dashun's good intentions to make things up to her. Lu Gua on the other hand takes advantage of Dashun's guilt to reap benefits out of him.
Gambling woes
Dashun's second daughter Zijing (Ivy Lee) is married to a flower vendor Yun Kaiwang (Zheng Geping) and they have a daughter. Due to financial constraints, she has decided not to try for a son – a decision that places her at odds with her mother-in-law Su Baozuan (Jin Yinji). Kaiwang's sister Caixia (Patricia Mok) moves back home with her husband Kang Qingxiong (Rayson Tan) when his business fails and becomes a bankrupt. As Caixia is not on cordial terms with Zijing, this further fuels the existing bad blood with her mother-in-law.Qingxiong instigates Kaiwang to get a second wife overseas to bear him a son. Kaiwang is tempted and his indecisiveness causes Zijing to leaves home. While trying to win her back, Kaiwang discovers that she is an incorrigible gambler and even owes huge debts to loan-sharks. In a fit of anger, Kaiwang suggests a divorce and insisted that she quit her habit before reuniting with him.
The cheats and the cheatings
Qingxiong's second wife Ruan Erbo (Priscelia Chan) arrives from Vietnam to look for him. He forces Kaiwang to be his scapegoat and the latter reluctantly agrees to protect his sister's marriage. However, Erbo falls in love with Kaiwang and Zijing misunderstands that Kaiwang has really taken a second wife. She goes to Malacca to nurse her bruised feelings. Kaiwang follows in pursuit and an opportunity to reunite is interrupted by an accident which leaves Zijing unconscious. Thinking that Zijing has given up on him for good, Kaiwang returns to Singapore.Qingxiong uses Kaiwang's name to operate a match-making agency. With that as a front, Qingxiong encourages his clients to source for second wives overseas and even organizes lustful escapades for his male clients. Kaiwang, too distracted and depressed with his family problems, leaves the business in Qingxiong's care. Unbeknownst to him, what Qingxiong is doing is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode…
Flower Nursery Fight
Dashun's third daughter Haitong ( Felicia Chin ) is an aggressively enterprising and achievement-oriented young woman who runs a hamper cum floral business with her boyfriend Guo Zipeng (Adam Chen).Dashun sells his nursery to American-born Chinese Ma Daji (Zhang Yaodong) to clear Zijing's gambling debts. Knowing nothing about nursery operation, he is manipulated by Haitong into signing a contract which not only provides flowers to her company at a low price but also hires Dashun at an exorbitant salary. Daji is helpless when he realizes that he has been taken advantage of.
When Haitong discovers that Zipeng is two-timing her, she gives up the relationship and business to return to the nursery. Her determination and enthusiasm changes Daji's perception of her. As the nursery's business grows under their cooperation, so do their affections for each other. Daji's parents decide to venture into the China market and suggest that he sell off the nursery to join them in their business. Daji hopes that Haitong would ask him to stay but she does not want to use their relationship to tie Daji down. Dejected, Daji leaves for China.
Self-referencing of Mediacorp
Dashun's youngest daughter Wenzhu (Koh Yah Hwee) is an undergraduate with countless suitors but she only has eyes for Daji. Talent-scouted by the television stationMediaCorp
Media Corporation of Singapore, better known as MediaCorp, is a group of commercial media companies in Singapore, with business interests in television and radio broadcasting, interactive media, and, to a lesser extent, print publishing and film-making....
to act in a drama, she inadvertently offends a popular actress Xu Yanning (May Phua) who makes things difficult for her. Wenzhu's conflict with Yanning and her close friendship with image consultant Wang Zhigang (Ben Yeo) become a talking point for the media. Worried that her public image will be affected, Wenzhu distants herself from Zhigang, unaware that he has already fallen in love with her. When the media brands him as a sissy and even gay, Wenzhu breaks off their friendship for the sake of her career.
Dashun realizes he also has a son Wenhao (Terence Cao) from his affair with Liang Miaochang (Hong Huifang) 20 years ago. Miaochang eventually married Yu Dongcheng (Huang Wenyong) and lied that Wenhao is her foster son. Both have a daughter Meiwei (Eelyn Kok). Unhappy with her marriage, Miaochang furthers her studies overseas, leaving Wenhao and Meiwei in Dongcheng's care. When Miaochang returns and realizes that Wenhao has not been well taken care of by Dongcheng, she decides to acknowledge Wenhao and bring him back to Australia.
Lu Gua's henchmen come to seek revenge on Wenhao, injuring Wenzhu accidentally. The injury leaves her with a clot in her brain which causes her severe headaches and affecting her acting career greatly. The once-cheerful girl retreats into seclusion.
The path ahead
Miaochang is killed in a road accident and her death throws Wenhao into a stage of despair. Dashun could not bear to see his son like that and decides to come clean about his relationship with him. He announces his decision to acknowledge Wenhao and his intention to take care of Linglan's family. Dashun believes that the family reunion will be a new beginning but little does he realise that Wenhao and the vindictive Linglan's return will pose unimaginable challenges to his life and to Tao Garden...(To be continued in Season 2)
(Source: Channel 8 official website)
Trivia
- Part 1 was initially scheduled to be 55 episodes, but extended to 58 episodes due to overruns in filming.
Response
- Despite this show having fewer quarreling scenes compared to the last two long running MediacorpMediaCorpMedia Corporation of Singapore, better known as MediaCorp, is a group of commercial media companies in Singapore, with business interests in television and radio broadcasting, interactive media, and, to a lesser extent, print publishing and film-making....
serials, KinshipKinship (TV series)Kinship is a Singaporean Chinese long running drama which was televised on Singapore's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp TV Channel 8 every Monday to Friday at 19:00 tonight. The drama is divided into two parts: Part 1 and Part 2....
and Portrait of HomePortrait of HomePortrait of Home is a Chinese language drama serial which was filmed for and broadcast on Singapore's MediaCorp Channel 8 in 2005.The show has 100 episodes telecast in two segments, the first with 60 episodes and the second with 40 episodes. Part 1 was aired from 16 May 2005 to 15 August 2005...
, many watchers feel that this drama is boring and draggy, and like its predecessors, copied a lot of Yi Nan WangYi Nan WangThe Unforgettable Memory is a popular mega primetime drama produced by Formosa TV that was originally broadcast in Taiwan from 22 September 2004 to 28 September 2006.- Cast :Wang Shengtian is the main protagonist in this drama...
, a Taiwanese long running drama's story and plot. - Many viewers like the pairing of Haitong(Felicia Chin) and Machi(Zhang Yaodong).
- Many watchers think that there is no chemistry between Ivy Lee and Zheng Geping, and feel that Mediacorp should not have cast them as husband and wife.
- Many watchers feel that the story involving the triangle relationship between Huang Yezu (Darren Lim), Xu Yanning (May Phua) and Yu Meiwei (Eelyn Kok) is out of place.
- Other watchers feel that this drama has a touch of humour added to it, and makes it a very light-hearted, funny serial.
- This drama managed to get its all time highest viewership during its last week with about 788000 viewers