Destined

The drama started out strong, with a formidable female character who is as resourceful as she is kindhearted. I enjoyed Song Yi as Liu Yu Ru and initially assumed that she will be a pushover due to her dainty appearance, but she held her own despite the circumstances surrounding her family. With a twist of fate, Yu Ru got herself hitched to the male lead, despite her fervent adoration for another man.

For his part, Bai Jing Ting portrays Gu Jiu Si with all the playfulness when he was a delinquent and with all the seriousness when he became a high-ranking official. The two leads ooze enough chemistry to make their sham marriage believable. However, I almost gave up mid-way through this drama as it dragged through politics but I was interested enough in Gu Jiu Si's character development to continue.

I also liked the secondary characters, especially the brotherhood between the two kings and the friendship among the young group who were supportive of each other despite past grievances. Jiu Si and Yuru's benevolence knows no bounds, that it sometimes becomes a detriment to the show. Perhaps the message is to forgive those who wronged you, and people who make mistakes can get a second or a third chance. But just because it's a noble thing to do, doesn't mean that people should get away with murder and still be able to live their lives without consequences.

I feel that the final episodes were a bit anti-climactic for me and the drama lost some of its steam as it tries to wrap up some loose ends. But all in all, a decent offering, if you take a break or two,

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Story of togetherness

Story of two persons ,one who spent her entire life inorder to become a better person to get marry with Ye Shi An who was belong to renowned family and he himself was famous person among the girls . Second one always jeolous with him and if whosoever admired him ,the second person take a class of him or her . female lead's and male lead's were the person . ML make fun of FL infront of the public the reson behind that was she loved Ye Shi An and wanted to marry him . ML in public made fun of her by saying that he loved her and wanted to marry her . She felt embarrassed and asked him to let her go but he put a condition to let her go . In public she had to insult Ye Shi An . She did so . But everyone thought ML and FL were the couples . This rumour reached to their home . In order to stop this slander ML's family decided to make them marry and from here the story had started.
Both the leads were together since starting of drama but their chemistry would be seen very late . I liked the drama as well as the acting of actors specially Luo Zi Shang , his acting was amazing .

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Feel good factor

The best part of this drama was the outstanding cast. Chemistry among them was great - the married couple (main leads), the sworn brothers and sister - of which there were many. Liu YueYi was outstanding in the portrayal of the villain and he got me really hating the character. Aside from this, the story on the whole was interesting although you could find numerous illogical parts in them and too many coincidences.

Gu JiuSi 's parents were in a hurry to find him a bride before the emperor's decree arrived for him to marry the princess. Mistaking the joke he played on Liu YuRu who he actually disliked as an expression of true affection, his parents hurriedly arranged for them to get married. The marriage was immediately accepted by YuRu's greedy parents as the Gus were very wealthy. They were married much to each others anguish. YuRu was in love with another and JiuSi thought she was a very scheming girl. There were numerous funny incidents arising from this.

However, their lives were thrown together as they had to weather through thick and thin, first trying to escape the predatory Yangzhou governor who were out for their wealth and then in YouZhou where they had to fight to defend the provincial capital from the attack of Prince Liang. Their paths finally took them to high positions in the country capital where more dangers awaited them.

There were many illogical parts which you could poke holes at. Why would the Empress Dowager insisted on marrying the Princess to JiuSi who was already married by then, when there were so many eligible bachelors including the Crown Prince of the new dynasty? Why did the emperor appoint the treacherous Luo Zishang as the Grand Tutor when there were better choices? What kind of medicine could make a person looked dead and then revived? This seemed to be a favourite tact in Chinese dramas and was so cliche. Why chose to stay at an inn which was obviously owned by the governor? The explanation that it was to be right under his nose so he would overlook was so illogical. And just by selling cosmetics, one can get so rich in so short a time, really?

And there were too many convenient coincidences. JiuSi and YuRu fainted on arriving in YouZhou just as Zhou Ye arrived to find them. YuRu arrived back in YangZhou just as Ye ShiAn was at the checkpoint to let them through. YuRu's mother fell of the cliff to be rescued by Ye ShiAn. If it happened otherwise, they would be toast. Always at the edge of danger, rescue came. Coincidences happened in life but just not so frequent and so fortunate.

Many things were not explained. How did Luo ZiShang rise from an orphaned beggar to be so influential? Why did he mistook the wrong father?

There were however some suspenseful parts which would make you clench your teeth and swear at the foolishness and stubbornness of some of the characters: General Zhou's wilful rejection of the emperor's attempt to connect, and the young Crown Prince's stupidity in not being able to see through and handle the Grand Tutor's scheming.

Finally, there was the feel good factor at the end. The capable and righteous became emperor, not yet another child emperor who was there because of lineage.

Overall, in spite of my nitpicking, I think this drama was very entertaining and worth watching.

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must watch

ignore all the bad reviews they're just jealous tbf this is the best drama ever

NO BREAKUPS, NO MISUNDERSTANDING/LEAVING
not lovey dovey but mature love and understanding towards eachother

female lead:
smart + loveable + unique
sensible + not pick me type
die for the male lead

male lead:
funny + childish but mature when it requires
loving + gets huge character development from ep 10

I love the friends group, how they show the truth and everything!!
if you hate the male lead then please know that he gets way better

The fighting / war problem starts from episode 15 :)

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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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Most Underated Drama

*"Destined" is, without a doubt, one of the most underrated Chinese dramas of its time. It deserves way more recognition than it got. The chemistry between Bai Jingting and Song Yi was absolutely mesmerizing—one of the best slow-burn romances I’ve seen in a historical drama. Their dynamic was refreshing, with a strong yet vulnerable female lead and a seemingly playful but deeply devoted male lead. The way their relationship evolved, from a marriage of convenience to genuine love, was beautifully done without unnecessary misunderstandings or melodrama.

The storytelling was well-paced, balancing politics, romance, and humor seamlessly. Unlike some dramas that drag on or get lost in unnecessary subplots, Destined kept me engaged throughout. Every character had depth, and even the supporting cast added layers to the story rather than just existing as filler.

The production quality was top-notch, with stunning cinematography, elegant costumes, and a soundtrack that perfectly complemented the mood of each scene. It had all the elements of a classic historical romance, yet it never felt cliché.

I honestly don’t understand why Destined didn’t get the hype it deserved. Maybe because it wasn’t as flashy as some big-budget productions, but in terms of storytelling, acting, and emotional depth, it was one of the best dramas I’ve watched in a long time. If you’re looking for a well-written historical romance with amazing leads and a compelling plot, this is it. A hidden gem that deserves way more love!" A MUCH WATCH!

10/10

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United as Husband & Wife—Destined together | Will always choose each other in this lifetime <3

I want to commence this review by saying how this drama gave me peace of mind, tranquil and warmth. I didn't exactly know how it happened at first but I later realized that it is all because this story created such a homey vibe...a feeling of security, strong bond, genuine concern and unconditional love that effortlessly resonated to its viewers which made me watch this in a comfortable and peaceful manner. I know it may sound weird, but I feel a lot kinder now. Hahaha! I would say they succeed in building a connection to their viewers on how they want them to view this drama as a whole. I believe they want people to know and understand that kindness, compassion and willingness to help can keep anyone away from worries, selfish desires and greed; and that it can become an instrument, a guide and inspiration for us to take on the right path to achieve a fullfiling and sucessful life.

I don't wanna make comparisons and I will not, however, I just wanna mention that this drama gave me the same vibe I felt when I was watching "The sword and the brocade" but this time the ML is a lot nicer and that there really isn't so much drama and scheming going on within the household. It maybe because of the story as both of the Female leads were forced into marriage but, more so, I think it's because of the FL and her gentle demeanor, intelligence and philanthropic activities to help people that made me reminisce of TSATB. All in all I love both dramas and I am really into this kind of story that highlights women and how capable they can be.

Story (Line, progression and twist) - I love how the story line focuses on the Main leads and stayed commited that way until the very end. I think this is one of those dramas who didn't get greedy in building so much side stories only to end up not using them. I also like the fact that all the supposed side stories were treated as a special scenes where we're only updated about their whereabouts just to check on how they're doing. It feels more satisfying that way because I don't really have to get stress on what will happen to them nor get bothered on whether we get an update or not. No strings attached at all! But kudos to the Writer for still keeping them in the story while casually giving us their life updates. I just also wanna add up that Luo Zishang's origin revelation is something unexpected yet makes a lot of sense to me. I never really bothered about his hatered, so when it was revealed at the end, I instead feel bad for what he went through at the same time happy that he get to meet his father as a consolation of his traumatic and tough childhood. But then again, he commited a lot of hideous and condemnable acts to get pitied. Well deserve death and a satisfying ending for him I'd say.

Overall design, CGI and Costume - The budget must have been huge because the entirety of the drama looks grand and luxurious. The wedding alone looks elegant and expensive, so what more with the other details I may have overlooked all throughout. The design and set up of each scenes are mostly intricate and it feels like the department handling this stuff made sure that eveything looks perfect the best way they can. CGI and editing are looking good too! and although I can still notice the use of green screens, I would say it's not as bad compared to other dramas out there who look straight up terrible. In regards to costume, I wanna say that they've got some good stylist with them. The choice of colors and designs for the costumes are great and I never felt that something is wrong with them. Most of the time I was even in awe on how good they're in making the costumes look beautiful and elegant no matter how simple they are. This also helped the actors/actresses to look more attractive and charming.

Lastly is the progression of the Main Leads' love story. The chemistry has always been there but Ghad! Bai Jingting and Song Yi's acting put it into another level. I love how their relationship gradually improved as time passes by because it showcased the real definition of Falling in love unexpectedly and unconditionally. I can still remember how the ML falling in love with the FL felt so magical. This story is simply so good. + I also appreciate that both of them are such mature characters who knew each other very well because it helped the story avoid unnecessary conflicts out of jealousy and misunderstandings.

Story - 10, This is such an inspiring and impressive story. I love how they're able to create a narrative that goes beyond the typical full of jealousy drama and was able to create such a strong and wonderful love story with firm foundation. Another factor that impresses me is on how they executed this drama with proper phasing even with all the timeskips that has transpired all throughout. What a Great Job!

Acting/Cast - 10, I'm very satisfied with the cast and I can never picture any other person playing the main and support roles; and as I mentioned above, the combination of Song Yi and Bai Jing Ting made this extra special and precious to me. This is also the first time where I truly appreciate and fell in love with Song Yi as an actress. Her acting is great + she looks extra beautiful here! My goodness! Liu Xue Yi did an impressive job too portraying his character, as well as the other supporting casts.

Music - 10, Proper placement of music and I also love their choice of BGMs in every scenes. + I love that they have full control of the volume of the song and never allowed it to overshadow nor drown the scenes it was used to even a single time.

Rewatch Value - 10, This is one of those dramas I will truly watch if I have more time and lesser drama to watch. I really appreciate the entirety of this production.

Overall - 10, Do I need to say more? Everything about this feel so precious and so close to me. I love the story so much and I also appreciate how they were able to tell the story in a nice and a broad-minded way. I highly recommend this drama specially to those who love the Main Cast!

IF you find my review helpful please let me know.

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Emotional and Inspirational: 'Destined' Leaves a Lasting Impact

No words can describe how great this was. Definitely one of my favourite dramas. The storyline is just so damn good, every episode I was captivated and wanted to know what happened next. The character growth was insane, especially Gu Jiusi and Liu Yuru, who were such a power couple. In Destined, there was so many inspirational and emotional things that I need to write down. Let me just say, every death had me feeling something, I would say most of them were necessary but it's not like they didn't hurt. So many things happened in this show and when it ended I literally felt empty. And of course, I have to talk about Luo Zishang (Liu XueYi). I know he was a villain but I felt so bad for him but not at the same time. He was hot and had a sad backstory, what can I say? Excellent acting and I was satisfied with the ending, overall I rate it 10/10, so good!

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Destined is a great historical romantic “comedy”. It is a drama with stellar actors that did a great job bringing their characters to life. There are usual twisted palace antic, great action scenes, striking cinematography, remarkable friendships, and a strong, beautiful and steadfast slow burned romance for the leading couple. Although their great romantic scenes are at episodes 27 and 28 only, the leading couple oozed phenomenal chemistry every time they were together, even when they were bickering, just looking at each other, or planning their next strategic move. This drama might seem not well done for individuals that were looking for a great factual based historical drama with no plot holes, but for those looking for a drama on a leading couple who are perfect match in mind and spirit with great values and deep love for family, friends, and their countryman, this drama offers all of that in a very satisfying way and entertaining way, Enjoy it!

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Destined for Greatness

I stared watching this drama because of Bai Jing Ting after seeing him in The First Frost. And, I have to say I was not disappointed in any way.

40 episodes might seem like a lot. The ML and FL in constant danger built up anxiety, but never once did I fStfoward through any of the characters.

The cinematography was incredibly well done. There were no mechanical horses, no wobbly swords, no blood flying before a sword came close. Tge scenic sites were selected well and blended into the story well.

The acting was superb. Every characters role was done well and convincing by their portrayal.

The court scenes and fight scenes were flawless, including parts where war machines were involved.

The best part of the series was the interaction betweeen the ML and the FL. They started out disliking each other, but through various circumstances they learned to trust, rely and love each other, even when villains attempted to hurt them or break them apart. They grew closer through their adversities and were able to work together flawlessly.

If you’re looking for fluff, this is not a drama for that purpose. It is gritty, it is filled with angst and non-stop plotting and scheming typical in royal court dramas. But there was never a doubt about the integrity or honesty of the leads.

Tgeres so much that is good about Destined, and I could go on, but it’s better if you watch it yourself; even if you’re not a fan of period drsmas, Destined will win you over.

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Best drama for women, understanding couple, forgiving nature.

I am very pleased after watching this drama, It doesn't show emotion of 1 character. it tells collective stories of all the characters and in a very raw, unfiltered, and natural way.

I also doesn't show super powerful villain or hero but rather show how they use their brains and even lie and trick to win the battles. The plots were not like alien attacks or supernatural infact they were exactly what you would expect from a historical drama like war, politics, society, and all these small social issues.

My only thing that i wanted to see was the highschool reunion of drinking wine of jisung that they promised in early episodes. Every Time jisung visit his hometown i was expecting the reunion from his best buddy but it never happened i was expecting it at the last episode too. His friends sacrificed so much for him i really wanted them to see each other again sometime.

But it was so good it has sorrow but still understandable. i cried alot but also enjoyed every single episode. There wasn't a single episode i ever wanted to skip. Thank you to actors, producers and writers for bringing this to light.

No crazy or sad ending thank god. Jisung and ye acting was good according to roles. Yuru was also good.

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Paying the price for stupidity

Let me just say JH and ZLS's relationship as father and son is messy and the reason for the rebellion at Yangzhou and the annihilation of the families of ZY YSH and LY. But ZLS didn't even realize he is taking revenge on Gu family until the last minute. ZLS could have been admirable had he walked the right path after all that struggle but he felt the world was unfair to him he so he should take revenge on the world too.

LY and GJS this couple was so perfect although their marriage was an accident at the beginning LY determination to make it work was admirable. Their relationship was built on trust so no matter what ZLS does LY won't be swayed.

SM and YY was an unexpected pairing but cute too bad the series didn't show how this relationship developed.

ZY and QW could have been perfect too bad it was not. They admore each other and fell for each other but because of LZS plot they never got the chance to live happily.

The brotherhoods:
Gen. Zhou and Emperor Fan's friendship is so admirable. GZ pointed to EF that his son is not fit for the role after trying to frame GJS for murder. A real friend is not scared to tell the truth it hurt but EF knew he was right but he loved his pathetic son.

ZY, YSA, SM, and GS these three combined is unbeatable from plottinf to assessing the situation they are brains and brawl combined. Their concern for each other was sincere and their friendship built on going through thick and thin and life and death.

The sisterhood between YY, LY, QW was showb briefly but they meshed well.

Side:
Mom in laws- these two are pillars for LY and GS they were able to do what they want because the MILs trust them. No monster in law here. Maybe LYR dad but he died early.

The righthand man of ZLS and his lady ally who keeps on being used and manipulated. I felt vad for them and happy for Lady Feng to have realized she can have a life without ZLS after her talk to LY. Her ending is fit for the story.

All in all the current generation is paying the price or consequences of what happened in the previous dynasty, there are other irritating characters like the dowager empress and princess but they also got whatvthey deserved off screen.

The last episode where they tried to stop GZ from killing FY was epic in a way. It's an ending fit for how everything went down but a bit anticlimatic if you ask me.

Actors were will fit and acted freat to the point that I want to curse LXY for his role as LZS .

***many actors were on BOY and even the scene of GZ at the last epsiode was similar tothe BOY ep when they tried to usurp the throne***

Osts:
Liu Yuning's ost for this drama was good and all the songs were well chosen to fit the story.

Rewatch: definitely specially the beginning when GJS was aimless and LY trying to mold him to be who he should be.

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