My Uncanny Destiny

A tale of two city lords.

!! Content/trigger warning for mention of sexual assault: At the end of episode 17 and beginning of episode 18, there is an attempted sexual assault on one of the female characters, which fails, and the perpetrator is punished in a later episode.

I thought this was excellent. I went in not really knowing what to expect and had meant to just watch the first episode to decide whether or not I liked it, as I usually do, and got hooked immediately.

No huge plot holes and no inane story or character slips that didn't make any sense, which is usually the main issue in Chinese dramas. The pacing was good, and the length of the episodes and series length felt appropriate and just about right, and nothing really felt like filler. Some things do happen very quickly, like the two leads falling in love, and there are some things that go against usual historical drama rule convention without much consequence, like there being no objection from people around the male lead for wanting to marry a non-noble, but for the most part these are peripheral enough to the main story and fleshing them out would only have dragged out the story for no reason other than to add unnecessary drama, so I don't really have complaints about that. Normally these omissions would annoy me very much, but in this case they didn't really bother me other than the occasional note of 'Huh, why is this random bucket-scrubbing maid allowed to just walk around the inner city/palace and command so much way-giving? Oh well *shrug*', which I attribute to the fact that it's a low-stakes rom-com that doesn't take itself too seriously with a 30min-per-episode runtime; and the level of (in)formality fits the format. The one thing that did trip me up the most was when, near the end, a character makes a pivotal choice to defend their city against another city's army based on their identity as a Muxi citizen specifically, and this is talked about by the female lead as 'sometimes your cultural/national identity is more important than your life', but shortly afterwards the three cities are then united into one, which is sort-of-but-not-really painted as the FL's goal to some extent as well. That whole 'sometimes people defend their identity before their own life and we call them heroes' speech was a bit 'Huh, propagandy' to me, but perhaps that was the trade-off with the censors or something to keep all the kissing scenes in, who knows.

I thought the comedy in this was great, including the 'What!' reaction sounds and occasional use of music that were English songs to emphasise certain moments. The first time I heard an English song during a Moment I had to check that I wasn't watching it on YouTube and they had replaced the music for copyright reasons, but I was watching it on a random Chinese streaming site, so that seems unlikely. Maybe it still was an insert, but either way, that was my experience of watching the drama and I found it very funny. I found this drama very funny and almost Douyin skit-esque in its humour. There was a lot of toilet humour, including someone falling in love because someone gave them clean toilet paper, and also a lot of fart jokes, which sort of really ties in with the Douyin-esque vibe of 'What!' reaction sounds and musical emphasis moments. The animal roaring sounds were a bit silly at times, and felt like perhaps were used a bit too often with the FL, but overall sort of fell into the general sense of comedy.

The kissing scenes are almost all early on and I have to say, they are very active kissing scenes with locked lips and not just faces pressed together, which I really liked about this drama. They actually like each other! They're actually kissing each other and kissing back! I usually look away during kissing scenes but in the case of this drama I actually really enjoyed them because they seemed genuine - not overdone so they were tearing at each other's clothes, but also not uncomfortably close-up of just the lips that sort of sensationalise it like so many other dramas tend to do. I also really liked the romance between the two leads - it's established early on that they're equals, and the FL very actively stabilises and backs up the ML in his role as city lord. There are no nonsense misunderstandings and the ML is very supportive of the FL throughout, especially once he realises that he really does like her. The one main argument that they have is resolved almost immediately - one might even argue too quickly - but even that is set-up beforehand with a lot of 'what-if ... would you forgive me?' probing and prepping, as well as the ML repeatedly noting that he likes the FL for her.

The romance between Yun Luo and Tan Rang was a little more '???' for me, but again, I wasn't particularly annoyed by it, although I did think Tan Rang was a bit too forgiving (I personally am unsure if I would be so okay with some random tricking me and doing the things Yun Luo does to him with the consequences they result in, even if the last consequence wasn't on purpose). Zhao Jing also had a bit of a weird situation happen for him with Zhi Lan and then Ke Qian Yue, and I do feel bad for him; it was very much not the usual clean-cut pairing up that normally happens, though I did also appreciate the 'random non-lead is a ladykiller' vibe that it gave off. I really didn't expect Zhi Lan's story to go in that direction and didn't quite believe it, and kept expecting that there would be some kind of 'Surprise! We tricked you' moment, but apparently they were serious about it, which I also found unusual given the genre - I kept thinking 'Ah, it's a rom-com, that won't happen', but apparently not. It was a shame, and she and Zhao Jing deserved better.

The second male lead was one of the nicest second male leads I've ever seen, and knows when to step back and when to exit. I never felt like he pushes the FL, although he does make it clear he likes her and tries for his chance. He also develops a friendship with the ML despite their love rivalry and is never bitter or entitled towards anything, including when dealing with Princesses Qi Meng and Hui Rou and their machinations. One of the most good-natured SMLs I've seen in a drama, and was supportive all the way, even solving multiple problems for the leads.

I've never seen either the female or male leads in anything before and was completely new to them, but I really liked them both, as I did most of the actors in this drama. The female lead especially is not your average FL-dressed-in-men's-clothes, but actually felt believable as somebody who grew up disguised as a boy. Even dressed in women's clothes she doesn't lose any of her ferocity, and she is always believable in each moment in her capacity of the City Lord of Muxi. When she is dressed as the 'male' Ye Zhao Nan her manner and demeanor genuinely swaggers, and even her voice seems to be deeper. Count me impressed. The ML on the other hand does a great cold and serious City Lord - and then you see him warm up and smile. Towards the end it was ridiculous, I was pausing the screen and yelling because he is So Pretty when he smiles. Who is this guy??? And why haven't I seen him in other things before??? He's also really good at the comedy and very quick with it too, especially with his facial expressions.

The other actors are also nothing to sniff at. From Zhao Jing to Lao Guan, the supporting cast also uniformly did a great job. The only one I found something to pick at about was Princess Qi Meng/Hui Rou, who seemed a little over-acted, especially with the sudden laughing, although I understand that it was meant to convey that she was unhinged.

The opening theme was light and cute, even catchy, and the ending theme was sweet. While the music didn't really stand out to me during the show, upon listening properly to the OST (I tend to skip the opening and endings of dramas when bingeing...), it is actually very nice. Okay, actually now I'm listening to the full version of the ending theme and the rest of the OST, honestly they could have made this drama a serious romance (which is not to say that the romance is a joke in this show but like. A Serious Romance with much less comedy) just based on the strengths of the ballads alone. I think I'm going to keep this OST to just pull out and listen to every now and then, actually.

I rate this very rewatchable, because I already want to rewatch it right now immediately. I binged this in less than two days, and the episode and series length adds to how easy it is to rewatch.

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Hidden Gem Alert: The Best Enemy-to-Lovers Rom-Com You Didn’t Know You Needed!

Oh my goodness, you guys, I am completely obsessed! 😍 I went into My Uncanny Destiny expecting a typical, low-budget historical web-drama, but it completely blew me away! The production quality was surprisingly top-tier, and the story kept me glued to my screen way more than I ever anticipated. If you love chaotic energy, fake identities, and pure fluff, this is your next binge-watch!

Here is my official, total-fangirl breakdown:
Acting: 9/10 — The main leads have the absolute best facial expressions and comedic timing!
Music: 7.5/10 — Super cute, bubbly tracks that perfectly match the playful vibe.
Romance: 10/10 — The chemistry is sizzling, swoon-worthy, and beautifully developed!
Storyline: 8.5/10 — Surprisingly engaging with great pacing and way fewer boring fillers than usual.
Rewatch Value: 9/10 — I will 100% replay my favorite funny scenes when I need a dopamine hit.
Overall Vibe: 8.5/10 — Pure, unadulterated joy from start to finish!

The Actors Absolutely CRUSHED It!

I need to shout from the rooftops about how much I loved the actors' performances! Zhang Yue Nan (Ye Zhaonan) is an absolute star as the cross-dressing city lord. She is so fierce but possesses the most hilarious, expressive reactions. And Luo Zheng (Liu Xuanming)? Wow. He plays the arrogant-but-whipped lord so perfectly. Their chemistry is electric, and you can tell the entire cast was having the absolute time of their lives filming this.

The laughable moments in this drama are pure gold! The entire amnesia arc where Zhaonan ends up serving Xuanming in his palace is filled with top-tier slapstick comedy. From the ridiculous misunderstandings to Xuanming trying to figure out why this "man" makes his heart flutter, I was literally wheezing. It doesn't take itself too seriously, which makes the humor land perfectly every single time.

If you want something lighthearted, beautifully shot, and shockingly well-written, do not sleep on this drama! It is a total 10/10 in my heart!

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A drama light on depth but heavy on queen energy

Perhaps if I hadn’t watched Mr. Queen, I would have given this drama a higher rating. I’m not saying these dramas are related, but this drama gave me the same vibe. Both dramas feature strong female leads as rulers of their kingdom, both had gender-bending or swapping as themes, and both have comedic elements. Basically, this drama is like a cross between Mr. Queen and The King’s Affection.  

While I was impressed with both aforementioned titles, My Uncanny Destiny perhaps has a less intricate plot and less developed secondary characters. I would say that though the comedic timing of the show is on–point, I believe this is due to the lead actress’ delivery and performance. Zhang Yue Nan’s solid portrayal as the formidable Lord of Mu Xi City is very convincing. This made me enjoy the character more, especially when she switches between Zhao Nan and San Mei, and yet still displays that same wiliness in her demeanor. The amazing dialogue helps a lot too. It looked like the writers sure invested a lot of thought into the FL’s lines that they perhaps forgot everyone else’s.  

Although adorable, Yan Zi Xian was disserviced by a FL so strong, that his character paled in comparison. Though he tries to hold on his own, he could not catch up. The rest of the characters were not as memorable as Qi Meng/Hui Rou, and it is for the wrong reasons. She’s just like a nasty bug that wouldn’t die, no matter how many times you try to kill it.  

Otherwise, if you have time for some light drama, this may be a decent show to watch.

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Low Budget, High Quality

finished this one in one sitting. it was THAT GOOD. i didn't have much expectations before starting it but now i'm glad i came across this gem! historical drama with modern vibes (gender equality, unique humor, etc), AMAZING chemistry, a lot of funny and swoonworthy scenes. it was enjoyable from start to finish, it's a great choice to pick if you're looking to laugh and swoon !!

some of notable things that came to mind:
- the antagonist is basically a psychopath, which is interesting to see in a history drama where usually the "villain" is motivated by politics or greed for power, in this one she's simply insane lol
- both the ML and FL are amazing as their respective characters, they represent a great king who uphold their values.
- women empowerment done right! the FL character was so badass but at the same time she can be cute and clingy when being around the ML. it shows that she's still a girl at heart who folds when it comes to the man that she loves, but will be THE Man when she's doing her role as a King/Lord.
- the ML is so down bad for the FL it was so adorable to watch
- there's a love triangle which i usually don't like but it was done right too!! and pretty lighthearted
- there's no unnecessary misunderstandings as well

give it a try and hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as i did!

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It's ok

Honestly I do like it even though it's a bit silly and something's are REALLY silly. However I don't feel any of the males or females are attractive in this show. It could be how they are dressed or how their hair is done. Idk what exactly it is but it doesn't make me swoon for anyone. If anything the assassin is the only one that is semi attractive and the princess he's with. Honestly I wish they had bigger parts because their love would have been interesting to watch. I can't say if I will watch the whole thing yet. I'll wait until I'm halfway through it and decide.

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Has potential but fatally flawed

Plenty of funny moments and the FL is a rare example of a brash and intelligent woman. That said, I was frustrated by the way we only got an episode of her being in power and passing as a man before she's back in female clothes and sent to her rival's hard labour camp. Why did they feel the need to default back to the old powerful man-servant girl dynamic? I wanted to see more of her swaggering around in a hilarious charade of acting like a man and barking orders at everyone.

I ended up dropping this series, struggling to reconcile what we got with what was promised...

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A Comedy of Errors....... And Bathroom Humour

I really wanted to like this one. The production quality is very low (even the sound fades in and out like a cheap production), yet there is an overall spirit behind this drama that feels like a passion project.

It's a comedy of errors, like any other. Misunderstanding after misunderstanding creates the basis of this drama. It's cute, but it's also tiresome. The FL was excellent, and the only reason I forced myself to watch 6 whole episodes and gave this drama a considerably high rating, but I am not a nine year old, so fart joke after fart joke bathroom humour makes me cringe rather than laugh. Actually, nine year olds would probably enjoy this drama better than I did, and intentionally or not, that's the age range this comedy would appeal to most.

A mediocre story concept with exceptionally good acting by the FL. I suggest you watch it.... If you have the sense of humour of a nine year old.

I'm giving this 5.5 fart jokes out of 10.

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Suave e divertido.

Um dorama suave e legal de assistir. A atuação do casal principal é muito boa, mas a do protagonista masculino ultrapassa o "bom".
Eu o achei incrível, em especial na sua capacidade de expressar facialmente o que está pensando (saindo daquele nicho de atores que não tem expressões faciais).
A atriz também não fica atrás. Gostei bastante, foi o primeiro dorama que assisti com ela e já curti reconhecer ela em outros, pois vi que ela é boa mesmo!
Gostei muito.
O enredo é fofinho também. Além de ser algo leve, propício para quando se quer relaxar e vem algo suave.
Recomendo!!

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Piękny romans i dobra komedia, polecam

PL; dawno już nie oglądałam tak dobrej dramy. Akcja w każdym odcinku, dużo zabawnych sytuacji i oczywiście płomienny romans. Naprawdę dobrze dobrani aktorzy do głównych ról. Pochłonęłam odcinki z jeden wieczór- taaa jest już po 3 w nocy xd więc to tylko pokazuje hak bardzo spodobała mi się ta drama. Mogę śmiało polecić to dramę fanom romansu jak i dobrej komedia bo obu aspektów nie brakuje tutaj. Uczucie jakie rozwijały się pomiędzy głównymi władcami naprawdę zostały pokazany w świetny sposób, tak samo dylematy związane z wyznaniem prawdy, chociaż szkoda że bardziej nie zostało zagłębione dylematy jak poznała o niej prawdę. Dość szybko akcja się tutaj zadziała akurat. Oceniam 10/10 polecam

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Io l'ho amato. Non mi aspettavo praticamente nulla. Ero inoltre in un periodo in cui tutti i drama mi annoiavano anche se con ottime premesse. Poi sono capitata su questo titolo. Ho riso di gusto, piegata in due, a tratti con le lacrime agli occhi. Di solito non sono in sintonia con questo tipo di comicità cinese, almeno non così tanto. Qui invece ho trovato un angolo felice, un luogo in cui sentirmi al sicuro. La storia non è diversa da molte altre, ma ci sono alcuni elementi che fanno sì che questo non sia un mero teatrino per far ridere: si creano legami non solo d'amore, a volte nati dallo scherzo, dall'inganno; altre volte si piange e ci si inc*zza per come vanno le cose, a volte si piange con i protagonisti.
La cosa che più mi ha colpito sono le espressioni di ML che sembrano quasi provenire da un cartone animato ma sono fatte talmente bene ma risultare naturali e questo ci permette di fluire al meglio della visione.

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