In the Name of Blossom

Watch this for Yang Zi.

The only good reason to continue watching this is for Yang Zi. The only other reason is to complete the series from Fluorished Peony.

The most envied actor must be Li Xian. Unless there is real life chemistry, there are many instances of sizzling on screen chemistry between him and Yang Zi. The villain serves to irritate more than being hateful. However more irritating than the villain must be the character, Liu Lang

The story tempo changes from draggy to incredulous plot twists. Its literally impossible to die despite the multitude of apparently violent injuries inflicted. Except the last death where a simple stab is adequate.

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Honestly... disappointing. I loved the first part so much that the disappointment with the second part just felt that much greater. A lot of scenes no longer seemed even close to being realistic, and the FL's character seemed to have become stagnated and overly saintly. The antagonists also seemed like cartoon versions of themselves with how ridiculous the plot was.

The one thing that really stayed consistent was the chemistry between the two leads. However, this drama is NOT a romance-based drama, so I wouldn't recommend watching if that's what you're looking for. The romance is very much very, very, very slow burn and while I was fine with it in the first part because the plot just felt so much more engaging, I was less fine with it in the second part.

Overall, I think this was a decent watch as a whole but as this was unfortunately separated into two parts, this rating is for the latter part.

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Overcoming Blossoming

In the name of Blossom is the highly anticipated sequel and the third drama collaboration between Yang Zi and Li Xian, and their on-screen chemistry is simply breathtaking. Despite the title change, thanks to the director and author’s quick decision, fans didn’t have to wait long for this installment — and it was absolutely worth it. Yang Zi, my #1 favorite Chinese actress, delivers another stunning performance as He Wei Fang, bringing depth, strength, and grace to her character. Li Xian, as Jiang Chang Yang, perfectly balances quiet determination with emotional intensity, making his role unforgettable. The supporting cast, especially Miles Wei and Zhang Ya Qin, add emotional weight, portraying pain and heartbreak so well that it’s impossible not to sympathize with their struggles. The story continues as Fang Garden’s peony cultivation business thrives under Wei Fang’s care, aided by Chang Yang, but new challenges arise when she learns of her mother’s passing and decides to open a medical clinic to help those who cannot afford treatment. Meanwhile, Chang Yang secretly plans a rebellion to return power to the people, facing immense danger along the way. As politics, sacrifice, and love intertwine, the question remains: can Wei Fang and Chang Yang find peace together, or will fate pull them apart again? Beautifully written, emotionally powerful, and visually stunning, this drama delivers everything fans hoped for and more.

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Very pro-woman like part 1

LIKE

DISLIKE

Liu Lang just like Sheng Yi grow up without receiving any love very possessive

Liu Lang always self-pity very annoying always trying to sabotage FL and ML - he is a jerk

Scriptwriter is insane always torturing the characters.. constantly being accused and they suffered so much

This idiot Liu Chang everytime bringing danger to Mu Dan - he knew it but still continue giving her trouble

Some of the hairstyles just ugly I cannot take it

Second half kind of boring same old revenge cliche fast forward from episodes 18 to end

MUSIC - personal fav

霓光 Ni Guang - 郁可唯 Yu Ke Wei

REWATCH VALUE

Nope

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Tepid

I was eagerly waiting for this sequel to Flourished Peony which I loved, loved. And now, I am pretty disappointed as instead of any character or love story development, the characters are the same, instead of any romantic development, it's just bad guys causing trouble over and over and episodes after episodes. In fact, the FL lead' s character and appearance has become very, very harsh and unlikable. I just finished episode 12 and can only hope that the remainder of the show will become more interesting and softer/romantic. Please don't disappoint your fans who/whom have eagerly been waiting for this sequel. So far, not really great.

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Stop the angst train!

At the end of Flourish Peony, things are looking up. Business is booming, their fake marriage could become real with one kiss. While it didn't exactly end on a high, it was full of promise. I was genuinely looking forward to the continuation of their story.

The start of S2 dashed my hopes. It was disaster after disaster. I can even accept the pain if the love line moves forward. The leads are obviously in love, but they kept dancing around each other. It went nowhere for 11 eps. The final straw is when the ML played the all-mighty Noble Idiot Card™! I was ready to rage quit.

Ye gods, I haven't felt like this for a long time. The show is still great. I can't fault the acting nor the production, they are S tier (as you would expect). It just feels like the show is mocking me. The drama kept teasing me and giving me false hopes. Yet it delivers naught. Consider we waited patiently for 6 months for this, it felt like a gut punch.

I have no doubt this drama was caught in the middle of the rule change regarding drama length. The production company chopped the show in two with scant consideration of how the halves will work after a 6-month hiatus.

As it stands, 2/3 of this new "chapter" feels jarring. We are dropped into a world of hurt. The OTP made scant progress with their relationship but faced setbacks after setbacks. It is literally all pain and no gain.

We finally hit paydirt in EP.17. This is the equivalent of 49 eps and 6+ months in real time before our leads are finally official! So much teasing, meaningful gazes and pining at the moon. Thankfully, the skinship quota went from 0 to 100 in 3 seconds. So much penned up passion on display! We give thanks for any fan service we are about to receive. Amen.

Will you be surprised if I told you the writer then hit us with the weaponised kitchen sink PLUS dishwasher combo? Ep.19/20 are the crème de la crème of angsty twists. Thankfully, the plot armour or maybe the Force is strong with our leads.

This is where I think the show is too focused on the palace intrigue. It sucks all the oxygen from the OTP's storyline. Granted, the antagonist's endless scheming is a ready source of angst, but it is so transparent. There are no subtleties with their machinations.

I rated Flourish Peony 9/10. This part is an 8 only because the last few eps bring home the bacon, otherwise, it would be a 7.5. If it was one 60 eps run, it would have worked better. The forced break in the middle did the show no favour.

It is done and dusted. Peace.

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The most valuable thing in life is having hope and an open mind.

My biggest takeaway from this show is that the most valuable things in life are having hope and an open mind. Mudan and Jiang Chang Yang suffered greatly and lost many friends along the way. At times, their situation seemed hopeless, but faith and being willing to change/learn different perspectives were what kept them afloat. Although there were some moments that irritated me during this drama, I am grateful for the journey and enjoyed the story. If you are looking for a show about friendship, change, and a dash of romance, this is the show for you. Yang Zi, Li Xian and the rest of the cast did a great job. I look forward to watching their future works.

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Seriously?

As someone who had nothing but praise to say about the first series, this was a major disappointment. The only saving grace were the acting cast's chemistry (both romantically and platonically), otherwise I would have rated much lower. The story is such a downgrade, I think the writers overestimated how much unnecessary slow burn an audience can take. We left off the previous series on such good terms and you're telling me I had to wait another 21 episodes just for a kiss? I felt like in season 1 (or series 1) every conflict and every hurdle the couple faced felt more intentional and actually moved the plot along... This season felt like "well we can't let the audience have their happy couple yet, otherwise why would they keep watching? lets just make the more one dimension and have them kidnap or assault Mu Dan every time they get closer, so we can reset to them being distant for some reason or another." In season 1 the slow burn relationship was part of the plot and in season two the plot was the slow burn... It made watching the political scene kind of suck too, because I knew Liu-Butt-Face, General Whos-It and Prince-A-Hole were going to recycle the same kind of plans: separate Mu Dan from Jiang Chang, ruin Jiang Chang's reputation. no variety, no flavour.

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In the Name of Blossom -A Peony in Full Bloom (And My Heart on Fire)

Let’s start with the logistics: In the Name of Blossom is actually Part 2 of the Tang‑era saga. It follows Flourished Peony (国色芳华) and aired its second half on June 30, 2025 — while Part 1 began in early January 2025 .

At the heart of the story is the FL He Weifang -a divorced, savvy peony cultivator with razor-sharp business instincts, rebounds from a transactional polity marriage to build an all‑women enterprise, turning horticulture into empowerment with flair
ML, her counterpart, Jiang Changyang, enters as a seemingly mild-mannered official with a solid core and unexpected heroism.
Together, they’re a fermented blend of strategy, soul, and - let’s face it-heating chemistry. She brings the business genius; he brings the statecraft muscle. Watching them navigate rebellion, romance, and societal change? Chef’s kiss.

Why It Still Sparkles? - Its a visual and cultural splendour. This drama doesn’t skimp on the aesthetic. A fan wrote: “I didn't really enjoy this show but can't deny it had EXQUISITE production and some of best‑textured sets and night lighting I’ve even seen in a Chinese costume drama.” Every scroll, every courtyard scene feels like stepping into a peony‑perfumed painting.
It was woman empowerment at every petal. He Weifang isn’t waiting for rescue-she is the rescue. She launches a flower shop that becomes a bold statement of independence and community, especially among women with rough pasts .

That blend of femininity and fire? Major empowerment vibes. Perfect Pacing, Fan Frenzies couldn’t contain their excitement for Part 2—calling S1 “one of my favorite dramas of ALL TIME!!!” and counting down the days until the return

Spoiler: The pacing stays sharp, the chemistry stays blazing, and the stakes stay high.
Top Spot: In the Name of Blossom pilfers hearts by day, reignites them by night—with mind, muscle, and botanical brilliance.
I would give In the Name of Blossom a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (9.5/10)
That tiny half-point deduction? Only so I do not look completely biased (and to account for the brief heart-stopping scare when I thought it might end sadly).

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HEAVY THICK MAKE-UP

First thing we notice on this drama is the heavy thick make-up on all actresses and actors. So heavy we can see the different color of their contour on nose line, good thing these guys are professional they still convey emotion in their acting through all that face cover. This is the second season of Flourish Peony with different title, I like the first one as it was new idea of screen-writing, the 2nd one though kind of boring. We knew the basic concept of the story-line, knew each characters, knew the villain - it's just the extension of what 1st season has already laid out. Of course, we want to know the end of drama but continuations episodes with no much differences. My best guess is this drama actually 56 ep total but made into 2 division because of China's regulation. But if they don't cut into 2 seasons, it might be just make sense because audience still be excited with it's moment, before losing interest after a year gap. At least that's what I thought.

All disaster happens to He Wei Fang (Yang Zi) and Jiang Chang Yang (Li Xian) are the result of Prince Ning's family and his minion's actions. Like they shouldn't see anywhere else, it's them Prince Ning did it (or under his order) or his daughter or son in law, they should have just prepared themselves when they bump problems - don't look anyone else. Love obsessiveness Liu Chang towards Wei Fang, Li You Zhen towards Liu Chang is tiring...I think I am over them. It isn't me, I mean when someone told him/her 'not interested' can we just move on already rather forcing it...or worse kill or intent for destruction. Ep 10 On Jiang Chang Yang begin to reveal his declaration serving the country and his allegiance to the Emperor, so of course He Wei Fang support his mission being a good wife she is. The two gradually develop a secret love. After a near-death experience, the two work together to put down a rebellion, and both retreat into the world of heaven and earth.

I think the guy Tu Song Yan (Prince Ning) is good, I meant I hate his character. He embodied greed and ambition, he think himself is more deserving as Emperor than his little brother. He uses his royal status to get away shady things, carefully loyal in front of the Emperor but instigate nuisances. Tu Song Yang is usually play the nicest guy (Go Ahead, Meet Yourself) but in this drama, his appearance totally change and dubiously malicious character. His daughter is not much different. The more episode progress the more I feel this drama is kind of preachy, beautiful perfect Saint He Wei Fang, she doesn't have flaws no mistakes no wrong no slips. Like everybody adores & love her, everybody praises, adulate her, so generous so kind. Bleh...

I think Yang Zi and Li Xian are compatible, they're close to age, so comfortable to each other. They're looking good together. Oh, I dropped this drama. Bleh.....she's a self religious...enough with her holiness He Wei Fang.

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