Ah Bao’s (Hu Ge) relationships will always be central to Blossoms Shanghai, as viewers can see in previous episodes. Those episodes show how one gift can ruin someone, that someone being Trade Officer Miss Wang (Tang Yan). Even Ling Zi (Ma Yili), who buys those earrings for Ah Bao, is feeling the effects of that. The overpriced earrings make her realize how at least more than one person is cheating her. So much so that she leaves Tokyo Nights, which somehow reminds Ah Bao of his first true romance. He eventually snaps out of this as he remembers that he still has a business deal with another brand.

The business world is a volatile one, and this show understands that more than its characters do, but these are most shows, as fresh eyes gaze upon characters who think they are invincible. Miss Wang pops in and out of these episodes, acknowledging her sloppiness when handling Ah Bao’s business contracts. Her circumstances humble her, and accordingly, Wong Kar Wai captures the objects around her with visual affection. The camera focuses softly on her hands writing a statement pleading for the Office to be lenient. These moments remind Western viewers of the Wong that they love, even if it feels too familiar.

Blossoms Shanghai has been showing these moments since episode 11 with flashbacks showing Li Li’s (Xin Zhilei) past. The fourteenth episode has the same feel, basically jumping back and forth to depict Ah Bao’s past in 1987, years before the show’s present day of 1993. The time jumps show, again, his first real love, Betty/Xuezhi. There are cynical interpretations that one can have towards this episode, especially because of its wild jumping point. Again, how are Ling Zi’s valid complaints about Ah Bao reminding him of another woman who leaves him due to his class? But in fairness to him, he is, alongside the show, connecting the dots that he may be the problem.

Auteur touches and character growth, in spurts, are on display in some of Blossoms Shanghai episodes, but it also feels like one of those one for you one for me transactions and I’ll explain. C-Drama tropes and corniness take front and centre in the fifteenth episode with Mr. Wei (Ryan Zheng). He’s doing a musical number to convince Miss Wang that he believes that she doesn’t take bribes. These episodes have been tolerably digressive but it has its ways of reminding viewers of who’s boss. That boss is Ah Bao, or at least he thinks he is, coming with another business deal.

Blossoms Shanghai‘s newest episodes are available on The Criterion Channel.