Flourished Peony

Sisterhood, Strength, and Softness

Whoa, I finally finished it. It was truly an amazing series. However, from beginning to end, some events kept repeating themselves. Still, it was definitely worth watching. It's been a long time since I watched something this high-quality in terms of cinematography. The acting was also top-notch. The script was a bit average, but somehow, when looking at the series as a whole, I didn’t really mind. Despite everything, I think this is a 10/10 show. (And thanks to the writer for not wasting the side couples.)

Even though it was a historical drama, I really loved how Mudan kept trying on new outfits — it was such a nice touch. Since flowers were used as a main decorative element throughout the show, it was a complete visual feast. I think the makeup and costumes reflected the era really well. That made watching it even more enjoyable from a visual perspective.

I also really liked how Mudan genuinely understood what women were going through, and even if they were her rivals or enemies, she always offered them a way out. I loved how the girls’ friendships never got ruined by jealousy or pettiness — they stayed close no matter what. I admired how Mudan didn’t give up in the face of misfortunes and kept getting back on her feet again and again.

Even though the romance was a slow burn, the fluffy and cute scenes after they became official were genuinely heartwarming. Watching those little kisses really melted my heart. After all those episodes, I thought to myself, “Yes, this was absolutely worth it.”

Overall, we saw a lot of female characters in the show, and each of them had their own charm. A’Fu was physically strong — fiercely loyal, always stood by her word, and practiced martial arts. Gengchun was highly skilled in medicine and taught herself everything. She worked incredibly hard to chase her dream. Xue Xi, even though she was in love with the same man as the female lead, wasn’t like your typical “second female lead.” When the time came, she stepped back gracefully. And she didn’t let it affect her friendship with the female lead.

Li You Zhen was more like a typical antagonist. She acted as if she was the only one going through hardships. She got caught up in unrequited love — maybe she didn’t even know how to get out of it. She was merciless, but it felt like she was forcing herself to be that way. Toward the final scenes, though, I started to feel some character development from her.

Ling Ge was a fun character to watch. As the emperor’s wife, she had to be careful with her actions, but she was a free-spirited woman who loved horseback riding. I was glad to see her and the emperor reconcile through open conversation in the end.

Also, Sheng Yi... I just feel sorry for her.

In short, all the female characters were well-written, and their individual stories were touched upon. We saw many different types of women, each with unique personalities and ways of thinking. Watching that was truly enjoyable.

It was my first time seeing Miles Wei play a villain — and I almost hated him :D

Jiang Chang Yang, on the other hand, was a total green flag. He was perfect in every way.

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A Visually Stunning Epic of Love, Power, and Resilience

I absolutely loved this drama — it ticks all the boxes for me. The cinematography, especially the aerial views was stunning and consistently drew me deeper into the story. I was completely enamored with the costume designs, which beautifully reflected the distinctions between different classes and professions. I also appreciated how each character had real depth. It wasn’t easy to hate or dismiss the antagonists, and the protagonists never bored me by being overly self-righteous or domineering. The heroes were flawed but grounded when it truly mattered, while the villains felt like tortured reflections of what the heroes could have become, had they made different choices. And I lived for the romance between the leads. Contrary to some opinions, I found it to be richly woven into the main narrative. From the start, their bond was built through flirty gestures and meaningful actions that conveyed mutual interest, growing respect, emotional intimacy, deep friendship, equal partnership, and ultimately, a soulmate connection and lasting love. I’m the kind of viewer who prefers to see love rather than just hear about it, and I adored how their relationship was portrayed through action and emotion. It made every shared scene between them something to look forward to.

Beyond that, the drama offers thoughtful social commentary on class and gender bias, centering its narrative around the hardships faced by low-income individuals, while also juxtaposing these struggles with those of the nobility to explore the lives of women across all hierarchies. It’s a story of survival and resilience — of family, friendship, and community — and I loved watching each character grow as they laid down roots and created a support network they could rely on. Woven between all these thematic elements, there’s palace intrigue — and if you know me, you know I need my fair share of conspiracies and royals vying for power! Overall, this was a huge win for me, and I can absolutely see myself watching it again.

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Good show but wouldn't rewatch

I didn't like how he treated his second wife, he says he cares about women and the way their society treats women but left her alone when she married into his house as if he doesn't know that she'll lose face and respect by people when they hear about it. I truly only stayed for the stories of the women and the fml's business. About her business-- i hate how she was continuously relying on him. They had a good opportunity to comment on how little power she truly had by showing how much he did for her to have her business, commenting on the little rights and access women truly had but that didn't happen.

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SO INCREDIBLE

Flourished Peony is a visually stunning drama with high production value. From the intricate costumes to the lavish set designs, everything feels grand and meticulously crafted. The cinematography enhances the immersive experience, making it a visual masterpiece.

The storyline is equally engaging, blending themes of love, ambition, and betrayal. The characters are well-developed, with the lead actors delivering heartfelt performances and showcasing incredible chemistry. Each twist keeps you hooked, making it impossible to stop watching.

The drama balances emotional intensity with lighthearted moments, exploring the complexities of relationships in a relatable way. Its seamless pacing and compelling character dynamics make every episode captivating and enjoyable.

The soundtrack is another highlight, perfectly complementing the narrative and amplifying the emotions in key scenes. Flourished Peony is a must-watch for its stunning visuals, gripping story, and unforgettable performances.

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it was good ep 1 - 4 and 18 plus. and this is not a stand alone with out season 2.

The first episodes with the husband and princess were quite riveting. But then it leveled off. The ML and FL had no chemistry or honest moments until ep 17. Before that there was smirky sarcastic banter, which is ok, I guess but for 16 episodes, it got old. A that point I really didn't care about whether or not they got together.
And I really didn't care at all about the ML.

The characters that had me riveted were the husband -- actor did a FANTASTIC job, and he stole every scene he was in; at first I wanted her to start to like him, until the horrible things that came out of his mouth (tiny spoiler: "Why are you so upset that a servant died?") You really can't come back from that. Later I was riveted to the domestic abuse victim and her husband. Actors portrayed those roles brilliantly in stark, heartbreaking reality.

Finally in Ep 27 it got up to my standard of 7 to 8ish for one of these big dramas, but I still can't forgive it for being dull from ep 4 through 17.

The ex-husband? Remember when I said a minute ago (8 episodes ago in my time) that I wanted him to be likeable? Yeah. That ended in the ep 20s. He deserves every slice of hell he goes through. Idiot refuses to walk on his own two feet and make his own decisions. Always upset that mummy, daddy and princess are making him do what he doesn't want to do....you know what cures that?? STOP DOING IT! But NO! He caves AGAIN!!! How many times is this? How long must viewers endure??? But that shows you how well the 2ML actor killed it for me to be able to hate his GUTS! (I've only ever seen that actor play a mild mannered ceo or teacher. He must have enjoyed doing this role.)

By the end of the drama, we see a variety of women dealing with various circumstances and ill treatment, due to rampant misogyny, and how they tried to survive or overcome their circumstance using a variety of methods. But again, up until ep 20, I wasn't really riveted to their stories. Maybe because the early ones were more lighthearted. they are not all happy endings wrapped up in a bow. The writers show us the especially when the FLs are given a choice that would set them free, but because of self loathing, fear of society (rape, slavery, domestic abuse), fear of succeeding, they choose not to do it. Some of the stories are quite powerful. When we're screaming at the TV, "TAKE DOOR A!!!!! TAKE THE FREEDOM!!!! GO!!!! DO IT NOW!!!" and they don't, you can only imagine a tiny bit how terrifying it would have been for a woman in those days. The FL? I can't say she's one of my favorite characters or actresses but whenever she is subjected to evil -- and it's a lot -- she OWNS the screen -- and survives and turns it in her favor.

For the poor suckers who watched this then had to wait for "Season 2" aka In the Name of Blossom - the Sequel, I feel for them. It is not a proper story without season 2. It just stops. No cliffhanger no nothing. For those on the fence, if you can bear the middle episodes, I'd recommend it. In 3rd episode of the sequel now and it's quite good.

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mixed bag

It had a promising start, but after watching the first seven episodes, I found myself feeling a bit underwhelmed. The series attempts to blend drama and romance, but it often gets lost in its own narrative.

The characters are somewhat relatable, but they lack the depth needed to really engage the audience. I found myself struggling to connect with their motivations and decisions. Some of the plot twists felt forced, and the pacing was inconsistent, with certain episodes dragging on while others rushed through important developments.

Visually, the show has its moments, with some beautiful cinematography that captures the essence of its setting. However, it didn’t consistently deliver the visual appeal I was hoping for. The soundtrack was pleasant but didn’t leave a lasting impression.

It has its strengths, but it also has significant weaknesses that hold it back from being truly great. I’d rate it a 5/10—there are definitely better shows out there, but it might still be worth a watch if you’re looking for something light.

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