When the Camellia Blooms

Dongbaek is a single mother. When a potential new love enters her life, she finds ways to defy the social stigmas surrounding her.

When the Camellia Blooms (2019) is a South Korean slice of life romantic comedy created by Im Sang-choon for KBS2, a forty-episode single-season run. Gong Hyo-jin plays Dongbaek, a single mother who finds her life unexpectedly opening up when a new romance arrives, and Kang Ha-neul plays Hwang Yong-sik, the man who enters her world. Kim Ji-seok, Son Dam-bi and Oh Jung-se fill out the principal ensemble around her. Rather than building toward a single crisis, the series is made up of everyday episodes in which Dongbaek works to keep her household steady while pushing back against the judgments of a close-knit neighborhood that has opinions about her family. Small moments of community gossip, friendship, and quiet courage give each episode its shape. The register is warm and wry, with comic lightness balanced by tender family scenes and a grounded sense of how ordinary people survive social pressure. Set in a contemporary Korean small town, it is a Korean television tradition built on family-centered romance. Fans of Crash Landing on You and Reply 1988 will find resonance in its warmth, humor and attention to neighborhood life.

Audiences rated the series positively, praising its warm mix of romance, comedy and social commentary around a single mother.

• Crash Landing on Youshared warm romantic comedy tone with a single mother protagonist and small town community setting
• Reply 1988shared slice of life tone, neighborhood community warmth and quirky ensemble romance
• Hotel del Lunashared blend of light detective plotting with romantic comedy and working class humor

Created by

Im Sang-choon

Release Date

2019-09-18

Episode runtime

35 min

Rating

7.8 / 10 (70)

What is When the Camellia Blooms about?

A single mother defies the social stigma around her as a new romance enters her life.

What is When the Camellia Blooms like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of When the Camellia Blooms as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is When the Camellia Blooms violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in When the Camellia Blooms as mild.

What did critics think of When the Camellia Blooms?

Audiences rated the series positively, praising its warm mix of romance, comedy and social commentary around a single mother.

Which shows are like When the Camellia Blooms?

Shows with a similar feel include Crash Landing on You, Reply 1988, and Hotel del Luna.

How long is When the Camellia Blooms?

When the Camellia Blooms: 1 season, 40 episodes.

Is When the Camellia Blooms still running?

No, When the Camellia Blooms has ended.

Where can I watch When the Camellia Blooms?

In United States, When the Camellia Blooms streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.