CHEONGCHUN BLOSSOM

DESCRIPTION

CAST

CHAPTERS

ANIME RomanceCheongchun Blossom
MANGA DramaCheongchun Lovesome

REVIEWS

• 

  dragalia

  100/100
  A story about four different people's lives, linked through the ever-changing seasons...

  Seasons of Blossom is an excellently told story that explores both the beauty and hardships that come with young adulthood. Each season of the story stars a different protagonist with a new central theme, and a seasonal motif to go alongside their story.

  Within this review, I will be looking at 3 aspects of this webcomic. The artwork, the characters, and the story. This review will include spoilers. I will avoid talking in-depth about specific story events, but I will have to touch upon the themes that each season covers in order to summarize them. As of writing this, the story is not complete, and I will update this review when it finishes.

  Also, if my review somehow manages to convince you to read the webcomic, please bear in mind that it covers topics such as suicide, self harm, depression, and bullying. If you are sensitive to these topics, I would hold off on reading it until you’re more comfortable, but ultimately, it is up to your personal discretion.

  Artwork 10/10
  Seasons of Blossom’s art style is very crisp and clean. The colors are vivid, yet they are not distracting, and honestly, the style really helped immerse me into the story and maintain my engagement. The art style can seem a bit simple with the lack of heavy shading, but don’t let that simplicity fool you, as there are quite a lot of details put into the artwork.

  One very small detail I particularly really love is the fact that each season is assigned a color, with Bomi’s flower (spring) being pink, Hamin’s flower (summer) being green, Gaeul’s flower (autumn) being orange, and Dongchae’s flower (winter) being grey. The webcomic’s logo will change colors to match the seasonal color, and the flashback sequences will use the main season’s color in the background, instead of the classic flashback black that most comics opt for. This usage of color also helps immerse the viewer into the sensation that comes with each season. The bubbly new beginnings of spring, the bittersweet heat of summer, the bright change of autumn, and the harsh cold of winter.

  When I first started the comic, I found the way the creators of the webcomic drew and coloured eyes to be particularly unique and expressive. They say that eyes are the window to the soul, and Seasons of Blossom takes that literally. For background characters that the main cast is not particularly familiar with, eyes won’t be drawn. This could, just simply be a shortcut to save time, as webcomic artists often have to take shortcuts to meet deadlines. However, there are a few instances where it truly feels like it is not just a mere coincidence. One of them involves the main character of the first season, Bomi, and her love interest, Jinyeong. Initially, before Jinyeong overhears that Bomi likes him, he doesn’t see her eyes when they bump into each other. It is only after he hears about her feelings, that her existence becomes significant in his world, and he begins to notice her face every time he looks at her. On the contrary, there is a character within the story who is deeply struggling in his life, and his eyes are almost never seen, because he never opens up to the audience, nor himself. With the few times that we DO see his eyes, we can only see one of them, giving the reader a sense that something is missing, or that he is deeply hurt and broken.

  Webcomics created for the mobile scroll format can experience particular limitations that comics published as books do not face. One of those limitations is the fact that you lose out on overall page layout and paneling. Webcomics tend to only display 2-3 panels on the screen at once while the reader scrolls, which is far fewer than the panels that can be fit onto two pages of a book, and as a result, the webcomic artists lose freedom in paneling and page layout. Despite the limitations, I’ve noticed on multiple occasions that Seasons of Blossom’s paneling includes references to past scenes, whether it be to mirror a scene or character, or to contrast them entirely. Usually, these are quite spread apart though, so it can be difficult to notice unless you’re rereading the comic, but I would particularly point towards the contrast and similarities between the scenes that Hamin is in, versus the scenes that Dongchae is in. They parallel each other quite a lot, and that emphasizes the similarities of their situations. Honestly, the fact that the webcomic does this makes the artwork score go from a 9/10 to a 10/10, because I admire when webcomics work past the limitations of their medium.

  __Characters 10/10__

  I often find that stories with ensemble casts can be a bit of a risk. There are a lot of difficulties in balancing screen time and development between everyone. However, Seasons of Blossom avoids this by intricately linking each character with another, in some way. Whether they are childhood friends, siblings, former classmates, a friend’s friend, the friend of a bully…The types of relationships a character has with another immediately helps characterize them, and allow for opportunities for past characters to naturally show up within the story. I cannot go too in depth with the relationships because of the fact that I would need to delve deeply into story spoilers, but it is one thing to keep an eye on when reading for the first time, because you will be amazed at how each character influences the lives of another in various ways, just by existing. One particularly meaningful relationship to keep an eye on is the way that Hamin's life was able to impact Gaeul through Somang, even though Hamin and Gaeul had never even met before.

  The protagonists, Bomi, Hamin, Gaeul, and Dongchae are all far more similar than they initially may seem on the surface. They all share the same kinds of trauma that come with youth, their differences being the fact that some characters got chances to heal, while other characters grew too tired of the hurt. With each main character, you think — “oh, if only they had this one person in their lives, they could’ve been happier,” or the exact opposite, that “if this person was not in their lives, things would’ve been far worse.” The story encourages you to ask these “if only” kinds of questions, but settles you back into the reality of their world very quickly, reminding you that you cannot change the past, and that sometimes it’s okay to accept the way things happened and to move forward regardless.

  A small detail I really enjoy is the consistency in background characters, too. For example, Jinyeong and Jaemin’s respective friend groups may consist of side characters who do not get as much spotlight as the main cast, but their characterization is very strong because of the fact that they consistently appear and their designs are recognizable. And when a particular side character steps out beyond the sidelines to become a main character, it feels natural because the audience was already familiar with said character.

  If you ever think, “Oh, I’m sad this season is ending, because I won’t get to see the main cast…” you’ll be completely surprised by the fact that past characters will constantly reappear. So if you really enjoyed the romance between Jinyeong and Bomi in season 1, don’t drop the comic after finishing Bomi’s flower, because they both appear quite a lot throughout the rest of the story, with their relationship still growing constantly. In fact, I feel that the main cast of the first season — Bomi, Jinyeong, Jaemin, and Seonhui — are the “true” main characters in the entire story, because each one of them individually can represent a season as well, and they receive development and spotlight as within that specific season, too. Bomi is of course spring, Jaemin is summer, Seonhui is autumn, and Jinyeong is winter. It is nice to have a big cast of characters, but it is also equally as nice to have these 4 characters that the reader is able to consistently come back to.

  __Story 10/10__

  This section will lightly discuss the themes of each season, and thus will cover light spoilers.

  Bomi's Flower: On that topic of Bomi and Jinyeong’s relationship, I initially started this webcomic for the same reasons other people did when it was released on webtoon — the romance. The first season, Bomi’s flower, is a very lighthearted romance that’ll give you that same bubbly feeling that a lighthearted shoujo romance manga will. The topics it covers are far more lighthearted than the later seasons to reflect upon the sweetness of spring, such as romance and friendship. It does lightly touch upon bullying, too, but not as indepthly as later seasons.
  I’m personally a huge sucker for a classic tall girl x short guy trope, and Bomi and Jinyeong’s relationship provides the fluffiest and sweetest content with that trope. The drama within the first season is typical for a romance, yet without it, I think the resolution and ending of the first season would be nowhere near as impactful. There is a slight love triangle, but the approach to its writing and the resolution makes it feel satisfying and it was never frustrating to watch unfold. This season is a favorite for many because of Jinyeong and Bomi, and understandably so, because they are very fun to watch together.

  Hamin's Flower: The second season delves into the story of Jaemin’s older brother, Hamin. It covers topics of suicide, depression, and high parental expectations, while also having a romance plot — hence the bittersweetness of summer. This season without fail makes me ugly sob uncontrollably, tears and snot running down my face, crying loudly enough that my family gets concerned…It’s a heavy story, but Nemone and Hongduck’s approach to writing these topics is so delicate and careful. This season was really impactful to me, completely shifting my outlook on life, and it makes me disappointed when I hear that people drop the story after the first season, because I truly think Hamin’s Flower tells a very important story.

  Gaeul's Flower: The third season delves into the story of Gaeul. It covers topics of depression, bullying, and self harm. There is, once again, a romance plot as well, that is fun to watch, because Subin (Gaeul’s love interest) gets flustered constantly by her. This season feels empowering to read, and watching the characters change, grow, and move on from the past is incredibly satisfying. It fits the everchanging season of autumn perfectly.

  Dongchae's Flower: The fourth and final season, Dongchae’s flower — winter — delves into all of the heavy topics mentioned before while dialing back the romance by quite a bit. This season truly feels like a harsh cold wind that you can feel deep within your bones. The tension is high, things just seem to be slowly unraveling and falling apart…and while this season isn’t finished yet, I have high hopes that as the winter comes to a close, that the warmth of spring will come to embrace every character, and heal every conflict.

  These are all very simple summaries of each season though, and I did not include side plots because at that point, I’d just write out the entire story into the review. Some side plots are quite interesting to watch unfold and it would be better for you to explore them on your own.

  __Final Thoughts__

  Seasons of Blossom’s approaches to the subject matter it covers is truly so cathartic to witness. The writers clearly know how to write these heavier topics in a delicate, tasteful manner. Stories covering topics such as suicide and bullying can sometimes end up intentionally or unintentionally blaming the victim, but Seasons of Blossom never puts the blame on the victim. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of being kind to those around you. It reminds you that you never truly know the hardships someone else is going through unless they tell you, and it’s important that you keep an open hand out to help anyone who might be struggling. It understands that healing from trauma is a long and difficult process, and it isn’t something that happens overnight. It has truly been one of the most impactful pieces of media I have ever consumed, and I hope that many more people can experience its beauty.

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• 

  belly

  100/100
  ...a brilliantly written and emotional manhwa that shows how the character overcome their struggles together.

  "__I hope you will have the courage to reach out for help one more time.__" __Introduction__ Seasons of Blossom is a brilliantly written and emotional manhwa that shows the multiple struggles that one faces and how the characters work together to overcome those struggles. It brings an essential lesson to light that many might have gotten bored of hearing, yet it is so crucial and important to hear: You are not alone. __Story__: 10/10 Seasons of Blossom includes four arcs named after the seasons, each with different characters and lessons to be focused on. All four of the arcs are, as said at the beginning, beautifully written and convey the emotions and lives of every character amazingly and realistically. The lessons that were portrayed in every arc are easy to learn from and relate to and, like said at the end, will truly change lives. The relationships are also written beautifully, whether they be relationships that are forming, ending, or continuing to blossom. __Characters__: 9/10 The personality and story behind every character are very diverse and portray the reasoning behind why a character acts a certain way. The authors made almost every character easy to relate to and wrote all of them very well. This was pointed out by another reviewer, but I'd like to include that many of the characters are very reoccurring in the story and don't just appear in one arc and then never show up again, so you can end a season without worrying about when you'll see your favorite characters again. __Art__: 7/10 The art style is a bit simple yet very easy to recognize and it is easy to find beauty in this simplicity anyway. The artwork perfectly depicted the emotions of every character, and I enjoyed how each detail was illustrated. The only reason it isn't perfectly scored is because the style genuinely simple and there wasn't anything really special about it. However, now that this manhwa is especially memorable to me, I do think that I will be able to recognize the art style in other places if I ever happen to stumble upon it. __Enjoyment__: 10/10 After 1 year of reading this manhwa, I have to say that it was extremely enjoyable and there wasn't a single chapter where I was feeling bored of what was occurring. In fact, I was usually always on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happens in the next chapter. __Final Thoughts__ To wrap it up, I would like to say that I genuinely believe this manhwa will save lives (I mean this quite literally) with the tear-jerking, relatable lessons that it has to give to its readers. Seasons of Blossom has the ability to make readers get emotional, whether it be happiness or sadness, and educates readers of mental struggles. During the author's note in the epilogue, Hongduck and Nenome said "We wanted to create a work comforting and encouraging to our readers but we were the ones who were consoled and supported instead," and I believe that they have achieved exactly what they wanted and will continue to do such. __Overall__: 10/10 Mathematically speaking, my score is a 90, but I genuinely enjoyed reading it so much that my heart scores it 100. I highly recommend that you read this.
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• 

  sawakazes

  100/100
  Seasons of Blossom: Overcoming Struggles

  Hi! Per my usual disclaimer at the beginning of my reviews, I'm not very good at articulating my thoughts, so I'm sorry if my writing style seems like word vomit, but I hope you enjoy reading this! This is also my first review for a manhwa, but the categories I'll be discussing are relatively the same as my other ones on anime. You can also check out my other reviews here!

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  __SYNOPSIS / TRIGGER WARNINGS__

  Seasons of Blossom follows the stories of four protagonists, with each of their character arcs occurring throughout one of the seasons, hence the title of the manhwa. Without giving too much information, each of these arcs deal with some heavy topics. In case some people need a trigger warning, I'm gonna list them here.

  • Bomi's Flower (Spring): Minor instances of bullying. This is the most lighthearted arc of the four.
  • Hamin's Flower (Summer): Suicide, depression.
  • Gaeul's Flower (Autumn): Bullying, self harm, depression, mentions of suicide.
  • Dongchae's Flower (Winter): Bullying, depression, mentions of suicide.

  ---

  __STORY__

  Man this story is insane because I believe a majority of people who read this were mislead by that cover, myself included. As I mentioned above, there are four arcs with four different protagonists: Bomi's Flower, Hamin's Flower, Gaeul's Flower and Dongchae's Flower.

  Bomi's Flower has the plot that I was initially going into this for: it's a cute rom-com with Bomi as the main character. It's easily the most lighthearted of the four stories and slowly weeds you into these characters' lives. I really enjoyed reading this, as I'm a fan of romance stories and I wasn't disappointed. There were some laughs, some fluffy moments, and some dramatic moments, everything you could possibly need in a standard cute romcom.

  The other three stories though? Oh boy.

  Hamin, Gaeul, and Dongchae's stories are just so completely different from Bomi's, it's actually kind of ridiculous. If I had to relate it to another piece of media, it's very much like comparing the first season of Fruits Basket with the second and final seasons, if you've seen that anime. All three of these stories have major tone shifts and don't shy away from heavy topics as mentioned above. Watching these characters truly brought out some pain, but also gets down to the nitty-gritty of how it feels to be bullied or depressed, complete with inner thoughts and outward actions.

  The best thing about each of these stories though is that they all have fulfilling endings, whether they are happy or bittersweet, they are realistic. Every arc feels complete by the end and it just felt so rewarding to finish a story with such a great cast of characters.

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  __CHARACTERS__

  I'm partial to stories with ensemble casts, especially when the stories interconnect. This manhwa does a good job of interlinking characters to one another through various dynamics and in turn helps characterize each individual, whether good or bad, but connects them to other characters regardless. The nicest thing about interlinked characters within different stories is that you're able to witness how they have changed from their respective events.

  A good example of this idea is the character of Jaemin. Again, I'm not gonna go in too deep with about story or characters because of spoilers, but like most characters in Season of Blossom, he's present in all four arcs, but is central to each of them–directly or indirectly because of his links to other characters.

  My favorite character would have to be Gaeul, the protagonist of the third arc because I found her story and development the most rewarding, and I just liked her strong personality.

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  __ARTWORK__

  The artwork of Seasons of Blossom is refreshing. One may even call it simple, with not a lot of shading and detail, but the truth is that there is actually a lot of thought in the usage of color in this manhwa. Each season is represented by a set of hues and colors and they are used throughout the arcs, including the webtoon's logo within the chapter. For example, in Gaeul's Flower, representing the season of autumn, you'll find a bunch of orange and yellow hues within the chapters: the leaves on the trees, the outfits of the characters, the settings of the story. These little details highlight the difference in tones of each arc, and I wish more manhwa could work with expressing tone this way.

  Besides that, the manhwa's art is simple and clean (is the way that you're making me feel tonight) enough that it's easy on the eyes while keeping the reader immersed in the story. The characters' expressions during important plot points are always showcased by brightly-colored eyes especially. Pretty normal for a manhwa's art style, but nonetheless very pleasing to look at.

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  __OVERALL__

  Seasons of Blossom's themes of change, moving on, and developing yourself will continue to stick with me for a long time. This is one series that has personally impacted me and affected my outlook on how I view life from now on. On top of having an entertaining cast, this story educates readers on mental struggles, and the idea that healing from trauma is not something that just happens, but is a long and gradual process. Please remember that. But I digress, this is a great story. You may come for the cute romance initially, but you will leave having gained so much more.

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