This review may contain spoilers
Is Destiny in our hands?
I enjoyed this drama ??,its not fast paced but well put together,the schemings and plot twist were not over the top or scattered,if you are not into political drama you will find it draggy,but over all it a lovely series.Casting was good,i liked the pairings,,great acting from the leads to supporting actors,good interpretations of roles,,you could see character growth as you watch, its a drama i would like to rewatch?
Now were i had tiny issue... The Ending,i wanted more from it,i was waiting for Gu jiu si's father to show up , ?♀️ then general Qin,she didn't need to die,imagine if she was made the only survivor while protecting the Zhou family ...those 2 roles showing up would have given the drama a grandier ending imo ??...
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A drama that you shouldn't miss
I usually stay away from dramas that has more than 30 episodes but I'm glad that I tried watching it because once I started I just couldn't stop.The FL & ML are smart, selfless and patriotic. Their love and trust for each other are unmatchable. I love how they are sorrounded with family & friends that share the same value as them.
I hate how smart the villain is just as the ML in this drama. It's like the ML & the villain shares the same brain but just have different values. The other is evil and the other is righteous who puts the country & people above all but it makes the drama more interesting and somehow unpredictable not knowing how the issues can be reversed.
I also love how I, as the viewer we're able to watch all the characters grow despite going through so much predicaments and near death situations. All of the good and relevant characters will grow on you as you watch them transform from young, free and idle individuals to outstanding heroes.
Story wise, it was well written. There were no unnecessary filler scenes. I didn't feel the need to skip or fast foward to other scenes despite having 40 episodes with at least 40mins duration. The story shows patriotism and how the characters navigate their way into overturning situations despite the villain's plans and hindrance. However, I feel like that the villain's story should have been discussed more because somehow his reason for revenge was not heavy enough compared to the efforts and the level of chaos he brought to everyones lives. He should have been given a heavier backstory so the viewers can understand his reasons well.
Characters- I love the ML so much! He played his role well and manage to give life to the character. The FL was okay but I think someone can play the role better than her. I feel like she wasn't able to fully embody the character the way the ML did.
Music - It was okay. I heard better music and ost from other dramas. Whenever I like the music used in dramas I always try to find it on spotify and add on my playlist. The songs on this drama didn't make the cut. It was just a regular song for me, nothing special.
Wardrobe - I notice that they only use few costumes on this drama and almost use the same clothes but I don't mind as the story are great and you won't really have the time to focus on it as you will be engrosed to the story.
I highly highly recommend this drama.
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Destined to be Almost Perfect - but not quite
Destined is divided into three very clear Acts.Act 1 - which takes place in the then prosperous city of Yangzhou. Where a rich playboy, Gu Jiusi and virtuous perfectionist, Liu Yuru, accidentally get married against their wills. As is the case, things seem to fall into place and they fall in love and the internal chaos turns into external chaos. Act 1 was really enjoyable and the lightest of all the Acts. Along the way, they meet the righteous General Zhou Ye of Youzhou who they become sworn brothers and sister with. The beautiful settings and costumes were just a feast for the eyes and a delight to watch. Gu Jiusi's mother, Jiang Rou, was a picture of dignity and grace and life really seemed like it was too easy and happy.
Act 2 - takes place in Youzhou. This was the MOST enjoyable Act for me and they should have just stopped while they were ahead, honestly. Like I won't begrudge the writers for just stopping the show after Act 2. This wonderful Act saw how the family rebuilt their lives after an external calamity and continued to make good friends around them. The final few episodes of Act 2 were action packed, smart, well paced and thoroughly enjoyable. There were so many beautiful moments of trust, collaboration and cooperation between Gu Jiusi, Liu Yuru, Zhou Ye and Ye Shi An. It was such a joy to watch how they cleverly overcame all the obstacles that came their way.
Act 3 - the most chaotic Act. This takes place in the Eastern Capital. Honestly, half of me wishes I just stopped at Act 2. Suddenly I found myself in a palace drama full of conniving officials. It's like a completely different show just haphazardly stitched together. The drama was unnecessary and weird. Alot of the plot wasn't thought through. It was as though the writers had to find content to finish 40 episodes. The last death of a wonderful character was COMPLETELY unnecessary and let me very dissatisfied. It really didn't propel the plot further. It was just death for no reason. That was quite upsetting to me. Anyway the ending was a good one but it could have been happier if the good character didn't die (you'll know what i mean if you watch it). I also didn't like how Luo Zishang, the villain, was such a trope-y bad guy. He was too cliche. It was too boring. He was like the villain in Under the Power. This entire Act could have been improved. And the good person didn't have to die!
All in all, I really enjoyed it. To me, I would say this was a cross between Under the Power and A New Life Begins. Apart from the chaos in Act 3, I think it was such a refreshing drama and highly recommend it.
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It was good then it got political
I liked this because for the most part it was light and fun to watch, with some seriousness.I really love the ML actor, he has a charming quality about him.
The FL character was interesting, she did annoy me with her snivelling mews of weeping, but she actually was a strong minded and independent character who grew a lot.
It doesn't focus too much on romance, which is a little bit of a shame because their healthy developing relationship was sweet and I felt like just nice and normal.
I hate how political it suddenly became as I always get confused about who's who and what's happening. There just got to be too many characters and too much palace power struggle and conflict happening. I dropped it so close to the end - only about 8-9 episodes to go, but I just couldn't keep my interest up for it,
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I fell like when the story got to the plot or when the couple heads to YouZhou, the story starts to get really boring, and there’s nothing left for me to watch, I really did think about giving up but luckily I didn’t. The story picks up again after near the end.
I wouldn’t say it’s the best or a masterpiece, but the story is very good then drops then is good again. I mean it’s not a complete waste of time to watch it, but again 40 episodes is really worth it.
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This review may contain spoilers
JUST WATCH IT AND SEE IF YOUR TASTE BECAUSE IT IS MINE
*NO REVIEW SAID WHAT I NEEDED TO SAY IN THE HEADLINE*? but one spoiler if you stayed her mother is ill and the concubine made her mother bend down outside for the whole night and when the daughter and the son in law came the concubine was trying to act all nice ? next scene they're eating and they serve this dish that the daughter is allergic to but the thing that get me is that the father didn't even know that she has allergies to that dish i mean you have to at least know what your so called daughter is allergic to but no he just sit there with a shock face and im think that the concubine or the father must have place that dish on purposeWas this review helpful to you?
It was okay
PROS:◇Bai Jingting
◇Bai Jingting
◇Bai Jingting
Yes I 100% watched it just for him I am a huge fan of him and dk check out all his projects. I personally just wasn't feeling the plot of this one. The Humor and character development was great and the OST was great. It seemed like the plot dragged a little in the middle.
It wasn't for me but I know of a lot of people who LOVED it.
Overall glad I picked it up a one time watch for me personally.
On to Bai Jingting next project! ?
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Must Watch
Bai Jing Ting is easily becoming one of my favorite Chinese actors. I've yet to see him not act a role well. This one is, again, a great story with a perfect matchup for the main leads. You will have every emotion pulled out of you as you watch this. If you're looking for a quick ending with no climax, this isn't your drama. This one is for a person that likes a really great story and how it unfolds.Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
A sweet gem
The first thing I will say is that this drama does not have pitiful female characters with uwu baby voices.Our female lead starts off young, but she never has that childish voice. Her life is hard and she has stuff to do. Even the side female characters aren't terribly immature. It's so refreshing to watch a drama where the females aren't infantized.
Second, Bai Jing Ting as the male lead was perfect casting. His playful rich Young Master and serious court official facial expressions were perfect.
The plot/story in the first half had my heart pounding. You never knew who was going to be caught in the chaos. I really felt afraid for the characters.
The chemistry between the two leads was amazing. Even though they only share one one screen kiss, it was a beautiful scene. And you know what? I found myself not even missing kissing scenes. The way they looked at each other, hugged, touched, and spoke to one another was enough. It was such a treat to watch their marriage go from basically a business transmission to a legit marriage.
The side characters weren't too annoying. I was interested in all of their stories.
The plot in the second half turned it from a budding romance to a full fledge palace/fight for the throne drama. I think it was a smooth transmission, but I wish they focused more on the couple falling in love than who gets to sit on the throne.
The villain made sense to me at first, but the he went off the rails. I kinda felt bad for him and then again, dude... It's not and never will be that serious!
I'm giving it a solid 8. The ending was happy and didn't leave us guessing. Great drama!
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Watch for the romance, try to ignore the rest
Mediocre show with some intereseting moments, overabundance of sweetness and domestic bliss as well as suprising amount of brutality.
Storyline and characters are mostly mediocre, the level of intrigues by various baddies far from intelectual masterminds. This doesnt have to be a bad thing - a charming proof of their inteligence. Sometimes they felt like a necessary trope to add - e.g. evil concubine. Othertimes, the capricious nature of the bad guys was almost refreshing or on occasion even felt realistic (man in high position who are not eveil mastermind but rather short-sighted scared fools making lot of emotional decisions).
Unfortunately, the shows starts quickly favouring telling and not showing, which leads to tiresome amount of expository monologues or various repetitive dialogues used as characterisation tool (not always supported by the actions of said characters).
And then there is the blasted ep 17 that made me furious by its sheer idiocy. Well, if it was to be a proof of their youthful ignorance, I apologise.
SLIGHT SPOILER - mostly angry rant about the level of idiocy this show can try to present as sound economical thinking
Family moves to a different region for various reasons with the intention to reestablish their business and redevelop the region in very modern sustianable manner - crating a proper infrastructure that would make trading easier, creating various job opportunities in this new underdeveloped region etc etc etc. Yay.
There is lots and lots of talks how thousands of people depend on their business. This relocation is done not just by the main family, but the branches and all their affiliates. Then, suddenly, the main couple gets possesed by the spirit of student communists from the early 20th century and decide to give their wealth away to the governemnt (and you know the government is good because the local homeless community doesnt complain about them - naturally, why would they complain about governemnt that cannot provide them with shelter and food despite their refugee status) as a pennance for their sins of being evil burgoise merchants. This action is framed as something to help the region. Because, naturally, one-time donation accomapnied by aforementioned thousans of people who followed the main family to this new region with promise of jobs and home and are now without said jobs and home (their employer deciding to quit) is the way to go when one tries to improve underdeveloped region.
end of spoiler rant
Acting - nothing to keep you glued to the seat but not bad. Just be prepared for endless talks. Romance between the main couple - tooth-rotting sweetness, be ready for the most pleasant of diabetes.
And to cleanse your palate, you have the cruelty of the bad guys and rather brutal depiction of war and its consequences (at least in contrast to the harmonoius romance strylines) - which is a refreshing alterantive to the usual heroism. Given the drama´s tendency to grand motivational speeches, one tries to see some idea behind this and for the sake of my nerves, i decided to go with pacifism (a good thing). or maybe it´s just a tool to up the drama and hardships of the good guys. Most likely both are correct, even though not both delivered with the same strenght.
Overall, it´s not a bad show, if you concentrate on the romance and the domestic bliss and dont bother to think too much about the grand narrative and economical or societal theories presented here. :) and are fine with charming amount of ageism (mother-in-law is fortyfive and can´t stop whining about being old and useless. Well, at least she is not in her thirties, so some progress has been made!
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Not for me.
I'm dropping this.The convoluted premise is just not interesting and Song Yi is not utilized super well.
See, I find she's at her best as a strong confident character, sassiness being appreciated.
Here she just pines and cries all the time.
Like girl, you got arranged-married into a rich family, how awful for you! And your husband even wants to divorce you and give you a ton of money? The horror!
Main dude tries, he's trying so hard I'm surprised he didn't pull a funny muscle in his face. Also his ears are massive.
But yeah, it's just not what I hoped. Definitely not Dream of Splendor, nor Joy of Life/My Heroic Husband.
Pass.
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