This review may contain spoilers
IT'S A GEM !!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)In the Name of Blossom is truly one of the best series I’ve ever watched. It is a brilliant Chinese drama that captivated me from beginning to end. The lead actress, Zhang Yaqin, delivers an outstanding performance, and her co-star Li Xian is equally impressive. This show touched my heart in a way few others have.
The first part of the story, Flourished Peonies, was already a masterpiece—beautifully written, suspenseful, and emotionally rich. And incredibly, the second part lives up to that standard in every way. It continues the story with the same emotional depth and intelligent character development. In my eyes it's one and the same drama anyway!
What makes this drama so groundbreaking is the portrayal of the female lead’s journey. Her emancipation from her first husband, her growing strength, and her ability to stand up for herself are powerful and inspiring. The way her deep friendship with Li Xian slowly evolves into a beautiful, mature love is simply breathtaking. I loved watching their bond deepen over time, from companionship to true love. It felt organic, moving, and real.
One of my favorite moments throughout the series is when they grill together and sit on the swing, looking up at the moon—such tender and intimate scenes that show the beauty of their connection. The combination of friendship, love, and political intrigue was perfectly balanced, making the whole experience emotionally rich and fulfilling.
If I had to point out one small criticism, it would be the somewhat unrealistic recovery of the male lead after several serious injuries. At times, it stretched believability that he could survive so much trauma. But then again, this is fiction, and I’m just so grateful he made it through—and that they got their happy ending.
The casting is superb. I was especially surprised by the actor who played Liu Chang. He’s incredibly handsome, yet he managed to portray a villain so convincingly that I ended up completely hating him—proof of what a great actor he is.
All in all, In the Name of Blossom is a gem. A rare, emotionally intelligent, and deeply moving drama that I will carry in my heart for a long time. It’s a solid 10 out of 10 for me—no further words needed. Just pure admiration.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Business, Blossoms & Boundaries: A Healing Era Story
If you’re looking for a drama where the FL just lives, grows, survives, and thrives—"Flourished Peony" is basically that.At first glance, you might think it’s about peony flowers (and yeah, Mu Dan does love growing them 🌸),
but really, it’s about growing yourself, even when life tries to ruin you.
Who’s Mu Dan?
She’s business-savvy, independent, and all about helping other women win.
Mu Dan said:
“Let’s build together, not tear each other down.”
No palace schemes. No backstabbing(👀). Just soft power, loyalty, and focus.
When life hits her with:
• War and chaos? She supports the army and helps restore peace.
• A toxic, obsessive ex? He tries to ruin her, but she dusts herself off every time.
• Society telling her to stay small? She runs a business, uplifts other women, and keeps moving forward.
The Romance?
It’s there, but it’s healthy, quiet, and comforting.
Mu Dan and JCY aren’t here for messy drama...they’re out there moon-gazing and drinking wine at night, literally minding their own healing love story 🌙🍷.
Why Watch It?
If you’re into:
• Boss lady energy in a historical setting
• Women supporting women (no fake friendships here)
• A romance that doesn’t erase the FL’s identity
• Survival, resilience, and peaceful power moves
Then "Flourished Peony" is 100% worth your time.
It’s basically:
“Bloom where you’re planted, even if the soil is toxic.” 🌸
Was this review helpful to you?
Should Your Beloved Be Protected?
I'll start by saying, this is not a different story written by a different writer (many of the complaints I've read), but an extension of the story we started last season with our characters having to face the vulnerability--as well as the challenges--that come with closeness.I wasn't a huge fan of the business stuff in either, but overall I enjoyed both seasons very much. Here's why.
Honestly, many people's reactions to this season (negative ones) remind me of people's reactions to Part 2 of Alchemy Of Souls. So many people hated it in comparison to the first part and thought it was a huge step down in quality and writing, etc. But I never thought so. I didn't have specific expectations going into that season or this one, and that helped a lot. Also, keeping in perspective what the writer was trying to do with the tropes/cliches helped me keep the frustrating bits in context of the bigger picture.
For instance, Mu Dan's angst about her mom's death helped her to redirect her passion for making money in a more altruistic direction, and allowed her to extend her natural compassion towards a vision much bigger than herself and her own personal ambitions, financial or otherwise. This new vision ended up aligning more with Jiang Chang Yang's goals/dreams as well, and allowed them to work together more effectively as a team.
Jiang Chang Yang's noble idiocy was the last thread of cultural "masculinity" that he had to set aside to finally allow Mu Dan to be her own person, rather than merely his wife or his beloved. He had to allow her to choose her challenges, struggles and dangers, just as he has done for himself (and as men are often allowed to do more easily without question). He had to realize he can't protect her if she doesn't want his protection, since that's just controlling her and holding her back, in the end. This is always something he has been stellar at throughout this whole series, but once he learned to care for her more deeply, he had to learn to let go of being her knight-in-shining-armor. It was his final holdout, and it had to go. It was the only way these characters could be true partners.
I thought Jiang Chang Yang was a fascinating case study in how the man in a relationship can function, and I kind of loved it. I ended up loving that he was rarely there to swoop in and save her when she encountered trouble (or when he tried, she had already gotten herself out of it by the time he showed up), and trusted her to make her own choices, solve her own problems, and win her own battles. The role he played had its own, unexpected charm, and felt refreshingly new. I think the word that comes to mind that describes how he treats Mu Dan is "dignity"--it's what Jiang Chang Yang extended to Mu Dan as a fellow human, not just as "a woman." Not something you see very often in a romance, and somehow they still managed to make their interactions romantic, even though this is a very nontraditional relationship dynamic that many are probably not used to.
I laud the writer's attempts at paving new paths for depicting relationship dynamics. I say, well done!
Was it perfect? Certainly not, and Season 2 definitely has more angst, lack of communication (would it be a drama if it didn't? 😅), and frustrations than Season 1 (buckle up if you plan to watch!), but keep the big picture in mind without expectations, and enjoy the ride.
You might be pleasantly surprised. 😉
P.S. The OST and BGMs were better in Season 2, actually (imo). Loved them.
Was this review helpful to you?
In the Name of Boring
Did it again.. Completing another boring drama just to say I completed.Now that it's done. Why did this need a part 2 again?
The characters was annoying and not interesting anymore. Like I didn't care for nobody in this script.
ML kept pushing fl away knowing she likes him for too long. I started to fast forward the nonsense of it all.
Don't understand why fl even liked ml. He was immature and just always playing games with the rich.
She made her money through her flower business why did she even need him? Just an irritating ml character I thought.
Part 2 was not even needed.
Story kept repeating what happened in the first drama.
ML fakes situations, FL goes along with it.
ML gets into trouble, FL gets into trouble.
Nothing changes until later in the drama.
Which I stopped caring way beforehand.
Was this review helpful to you?
Visually Engaging But Emotionally Frustrating
Overall, I enjoyed both S1 and now S2. The heart of the series, the deep, abiding love between Mu Dan and Jiang Chang Yang, was beautifully portrayed and kept me emotionally invested. Here’s a quick summary:Stunning visuals and cinematography: 10/10
Beautiful costumes and detailed set design: 10/10
Off-the-charts chemistry and enduring love between ML and FL: 10/10
Li Xian + Yang Zi pairing: 10/10
Strong supporting cast: 10/10
BUT….
Unnecessarily dragged-out romantic tension, overly tedious & repetitive miscommunication arc, half-baked late subplots, and a tiresome script preaching on themes of female empowerment and righteous court officials (again and again... and again): 3/10
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
They ate it up
Waited a whole year and thank God they didn’t disappoint!Mu Dan is more badass than ever, and Chang Yang still has that devilish charm. I almost loved it, but a few things bugged me.
First off, why is the emperor so powerless? It felt off and honestly too fake. And Mr. Trash Bag keeps forcing her like he forgot all the garbage he pulled before. It wasn’t even evil, just pathetic. Even worse? Ms. Trash Bag Enjoyer saying that if the FL was gone, then he’d look at her. Girl, seriously?
But credit where it’s due: after all the shenanigans, it was amazing to see our main couple still trust each other. After 56 episodes, that loyalty hit hard.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A Feast For The Eyes But The Magic Wasn’t Quite There
In the Name of Blossom didn’t quite live up to my expectations, even though I gave it a high rating. It’s true to say, as many have commented, the sequel to Flourished Peony was up and down and seemed to lack that magical spark found in the first series.In some ways, the lack of consistency with the first series may very well have to do with the gap required by Chinese government policy that no drama is to be over 40 episodes and if it is, it must be split in to two parts, with the second part aired 12 months after the first.
There were moments that were excellent, then others that were repetitive and others that even had some noble idiocy creep into them. Our OTP went from being great communicators to full on misunderstandings thanks to others interfering in the relationship.
Despite these frustrations, the acting continued to be superb, the sound track was very good and the set design just as good as the first time round.
I did grow tired of the villains. They went from competent and guarded to overt and, in my view, outright frustrating - trying to be more clever than what they actually were.
As for the peonies - magnificent. The other couples - delightful, except for the villainous tragic pair. The shop employees - were under utilised and almost non existent.
The key battle in the latter part of the story was underdone and those who were supposed to be competent, weren’t. The way the calvary was used, in my view not quite right. I only raise this because this part of the story used up some considerable time.
In the end, our OTP triumphed and the final episode was a kdrama ending - everything wrapped up in a neat bow.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
When peonies bloom and wither: A quietly powerful sequel
If Part 1 of In the Name of Blossom pulled us in with quiet tension and elegant storytelling, Part 2—Flourished Peony—goes deeper and hits harder. Everything feels richer: the emotions, the power struggles, the subtle moves behind the scenes. It’s the kind of drama that grows on you, slowly but surely.What makes this part so beautiful is how it uses the peony—not just as a symbol, but almost like a mirror to the characters and their journeys.
🌸 When the Peony Withers
There are moments in the show where things fall apart, and it’s not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it's quiet and painful—like a peony slowly losing its petals.
In life, we see people realizing that their dreams aren’t turning out the way they hoped.
In love, relationships fade, not because of lack of feeling, but because of timing, silence, or pride.
In business, former power players start to crumble—once admired, now barely hanging on.
And in politics, influence can disappear in an instant. One wrong move, and suddenly you’re out of the game.
It’s heartbreaking, but it’s real—and it’s beautifully done.
🌺 When the Peony Blooms
But then... just when things seem like they’re at their worst, the show gives us these quiet, powerful moments of hope. And just like a peony in full bloom, it’s breathtaking.
In life, some characters find new strength and purpose, even after being knocked down.
In love, there’s healing. Not the over-the-top kind, but the gentle kind—through honesty and vulnerability.
In business, new voices rise, showing that being overlooked doesn’t mean being powerless.
And in politics, strategy wins over noise. It’s the patient ones who end up making real moves.
Final Thoughts
Flourished Peony isn’t loud or flashy—it’s smart, emotional, and quietly powerful. It reminds us that things fall apart, but they can also come back together. Like a peony, life goes through seasons: sometimes you wither, sometimes you bloom. And both are part of the story.
If you like dramas that are thoughtful, beautifully shot, and full of layered storytelling, this one’s worth watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
A richly satisfying completion of Flourished Peony
A 2025 historical Cdrama which completes the story begun in Flourished Peony, of the love of He Wei Fang (known as Mudan) and Jiang Changyang. 24 eps x 45mins. ea = 18 hrs watch time. This was originally scripted and mostly produced as a grand drama of 56 eps., but as a result of new rules limiting dramas to no more than 40 episodes it was broken into two and renamed. I would advise chunking it up into a few large sections for bingeing which bridge that break.I have reviewed Flourished Peony separately but to summarize the overall plot: He Wei Fang, the daughter of an apothecary and a peony cultivator, escapes a dangerous and loveless marriage in the provinces with some coincidental help from the Floral Envoy of the Emperor (a part of the Ministry of Rites). He, for his part, was evading a betrothal to a princess (the 'County Princess') who had been the long-time secret and devoted lover of Mudan's husband.
Mudan then escapes her family on her own and, penniless in the capitol city of Chang'an, gathers together capital and loyal associates and recovers her stolen inheritance, her mother's store. ChangYang never forgets her and helps her in hidden ways, since his public persona is of a corrupt and heartless imperial playboy. As they fall slowly in love, he becomes her investor, her friend and eventually her contract-husband in a fake concubinage-marriage.
ChangYang is engaged in a long-term secret and dangerous plan, together with his childhood friend the Emperor, to root out corrupt officials throughout the government. His ostensive patron is the older brother of the Emperor, Prince Ning, who plans to become emperor himself. Prince Ning is the father of the County Princess and the father-in-law of the now humiliated and crippled ex-husband of Mudan, Liu Chang, who has since become obsessed with recovering Mudan, and, in his delusions, his original 'honourable' self. The continuous danger posed by the Ning household's machinations and interventions dogs our couple throughout the story.
This is not a drama for the impatient. The affection of the leads for each other is palpable very early but they have to endure many trials before they can finally confess their love to each other. Never boring, the love between two very strong and independent individuals, separately shaped by their complicated pasts, is masterfully depicted.
Truly excellent cast. Even tho it is such a largescale production, many separate individuals still stand out clearly. This is a powerfully theatrical script and it offers the leads big roles, with subtle emotions and grand gestures. The performances of Li Xian, Yang Zi and Miles Wei were stratospherically good. The Emperor, the Prince, the County Princess, and more, were great.
An original and strong script situated in a really fine, grand production; lovely music, beautiful spectacles, costuming, etc. This is a show to savor intensely, for much more than the central romance and the political intrigue. The depiction of the world of pleasure and entertainment in Tang society which dominates Part One is a treat. Differently so, the well-done high dramatic tone of Part Two is masterful. It manages to weave together poetry, proverbs and political speech (which can be insanely jarring in many cdrama productions) as the fundamental pleasure of the revelation of of the plot's long term developments.
Flourished Peony covers the struggle of Mudan to establish her horticultural business and the evolution of the Mudan's and ChangYang's relationship from patron/client to a more equal and enduring affection. The fragility of the spaces for women of energy and ambition provides much of the drama. Men in the community and in her profession utilize whatever they can to challenge her efforts, for all sorts of reasons, from the personal to professional competition. The County Princess' desperate attempts to recover her husband's love begin to escalate dangerously.
In this second part the very dangerous long-term political project of ChangYang and his friend the Tang Emperor comes to fruition. We learn more about his past through Mudan's increasing knowledge. The romance between Mudan and ChangYang hovers for a long time in the grey areas of an intimate friendship. They pledge their loyalty to each other tentatively, over and over again. When they become lovers it is richly satisfying to see. Li Xian and Yang Zi are veterans of modern cdrama romances and are at ease with the move into physical affection. They are beautiful lovers, and the script takes pains to situate their love in the community that Mudan has built for them. You will absolutely love the ending(s).
Was this review helpful to you?
In the Name of Blossom: Peonies, Grit, and the Journey Back to Yourself
🔹 A peony garden, a stubborn official, and a love that keeps circling back📖 Overview
🔹 24 episodes, costume romance
🔹 Adapted from the novel Flourished Peony by Yi Qian Zhong
🔹 Yang Zi plays He Wei Fang, a cultivator who holds her ground while tending to others
🔹 Li Xian plays Jiang Chang Yang, an official driven by plans that could cost him everything
🔹 It begins with Wei Fang’s garden, a sudden loss, and her choice to open a clinic. At the same time, Chang Yang takes on a reform that puts him in danger, pulling the two into a storm they try to face together
✨ How It Felt Watching
🔹 Comforting at first, then tense once politics close in
🔹 Their bond was like two people bravely reaching for each other, sometimes clashing.
🎭 Cast & Performances
🔹 Yang Zi plays He Wei Fang, a stubborn character who is gentle with patients but fierce with rivals.
🔹 Li Xian portrays Jiang Chang Yang, a character who appears calm on the outside and remains resolute once he has made a commitment.
🔹 The lively supporting cast infused the market and clinic with a vibrant blend of humor, animated chatter, and spirited rivalry, breathing life into the very heart of the city.
🎵 OST
🔹 Neon Light (霓光) by Yisa Yu
🔹 Leaving a Good Reputation (流芳) by Sitar Tan
🔹 Like Frost (如霜) by Jam Hsiao
🔹 The Blue Bird Returns (青鸟归) by Terry Lin
🔹 Song of Youth (芳华吟) by Zhang Zining (formerly of ROCKET GIRLS 101)
🎨 Visuals & Production
🔹 The beautiful gardens from the Tang dynasty, filled with vibrant peonies and stunning landscapes, had such a rich and inviting feel!
🔹 Costumes fit rank and role without pulling focus
🔹 Some candlelit scenes appeared dark, but the busy marketplaces and clinic interiors provided balance.
🏆 Final Thoughts
🔹 I appreciated how the peony and clinic arcs gave Wei Fang her own world beyond romance, while the reform path showed Chang Yang's willingness to take risks.
🔹 Would I rewatch? No
☕ SpillTheDramaTea’s Rating: 8/10, a nice brew, I enjoyed it
✏️ As SpillTheDramaTea, it really felt like two people courageously working to rebuild love and peace even while facing a storm!
✨ Which scene made you root for them the hardest?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Worthy sequel in my opinion!
This was such a worthy sequel in my opinion! I am lucky to have started this right after the first season, that way I was still in the story and just as emotionally invested in the characters. And even though the beginning felt a lot like jumping from one tragedy/obstacle to the next, I really enjoyed the plot anyway. I loved seeing how the leads’ relationship slowly progressed, however, I agree that their development was frustrating. Not too much to irritate me, but … well. S1 did a good job establishing Mu Dan’s and Jiang Chang Yan’s communication skills as well as their tacit understanding of the other. Yet in S2 we see misunderstandings happening that result in lack of/miscommunication, which felt like a cheap trick to force tension and conflict. Did the romance still pay off for me? Yes, but the forced back and forth sure was concerning.I must command Yang Zi here, of course, because she was such a standout this season again. Her delivery in emotional scenes were insane, and she instantly held my attention🤩. A scene could be tense, and as soon as she opens her mouth, I’d have tears running down my eyes (looking at episode 19/20👀). Also, the scene in episode 21 when Mu Dan is drunk, dreaming about Jiang Chang Yan, and wondering why she can touch him. What a gut punch… Zhang Ya Qin also pulled her weight even though she disappeared in the middle (?? Where the hell was she), but the confrontation scene in episode 6 with Liu Chang, and her desperation and anger at his relentless pursuit of Mu Dan, was so well done emotionally.
Overall, this season was really nice, and I enjoyed it a lot. It made me smile, laugh, and especially cry! Also, appreciation for She Yan, my fallen lowkey random side character I have some emotional connection to… 🥹💖
Was this review helpful to you?
The strength of women
One story split into two parts, this second half that follows Flourished Peony suffers somewhat from contradictory draggy parts and underdeveloped plot lines for an overall uneven effect. The production quality and performances are the same as the first part, but the defects in the story writing become more apparent here. The drama is blend of a serious historical drama with more idol drama elements, and while it may work for some seeking a story about women empowerment, the sometimes lack of realism made it hard for me to fully enter into the drama. Mudan is simply too capable and strong to believe, and blending her story with Jiang Chanyang's more political story elements is a bit awkward at the end, becoming a bit preachy and sentimental.However, Yang Zi, Li Xian and the rest of the cast put up some great performances throughout, making it worthwhile to finish this story. It is in the more domestic, intimate scenes between characters that this drama really shines. The costumes and sets are lush, and a pretty solid soundtrack accompanies in the background.
Was this review helpful to you?
