Destined

Mismatch? Perfect match.

A beautiful drama which I initially started it just for the arranged-marriage romance, but it offered so much more - especially in terms of character development.

I personally liked Gu Jiusi's playful nature. He was a good character from the beginning - kind, always respectful and protective of his wife. After the tragedy, I didn’t even feel like continuing because I didn’t want him to change. In Ep 15, when Liu Yuru says, “But now, I just want you to be the same as before, to go out and play like a happy kid,” it perfectly captured what I was feeling. But after watching the whole series : On the outside, it may feel like he changed drastically, but he was always the same - just more mature and reliable.

I also liked how Yuru’s perspective changed after marriage. At first, she was quite calculative, focused only on securing a stable and happy marriage. But when Jiusi asked her what she was truly interested in, it really struck her. That question pushed her to reflect, grow, and eventually learn to build and earn through business on her own.

I felt sad for Jiusi’s mother - such a strong woman, yet after moving and losing her husband, she seemed to lose her spark. The middle became more political, and while it was fine, I enjoyed eps 1-14 the most.

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Destined is my joy. Bai Jing Ting is my enjoyment.

Destined (2023) is a Woman in Business Period RomCom Drama. This is one of my favorite Chinese dramas of the year.

Apart while together. Destined hones in on a comedy while being a serious drama. The star, Bai Jing Ting, tries his hand at comedy, while reeling in the serious aspects of this story too.

The Story

A pampered son of the richest Costume Drama Plutocrat, has a spat with the daughter of a modestly well off Merchant. The differences are irresolvable. As with happenstance, the two end up in a arrange marriage. He is a bon-vivant and she is prim and proper. This is great fodder for laughter as the two try to cohabitate peacefully. Destined stars Song Ye as the prim and proper Liu Yu Ru and Bai Jing Ting as the spoiled but kind-hearted Gu Jun Si. He begins to teach her business and she pushes him to the highest scholastic achievements. They both “better” each other has walls are broken down to expose love.

Destined is a refreshing Costume drama change. Few things produce more of an anachronism than a Comedic Costume Chinese Drama. I have not seen Bai Jing Ting in a RomCom yet, but this seems to be the year that many Asian dramatic actors are challenging themselves to try comedy. Bai Jing Ting has never given his audience the same acting performance in his dramas and this extends to his attempt at comedy. I found myself laughing a lot. Bai Jing Ting, as Gu Jun Si, utilizes body language and gestures to aid in his comedic performance and his comedic timing is spot on.

Song Yi as Liu Yu Ru plays the straight part in this Chinese drama series. She gives some of the most endearing dialogue about women in business and love, sending goosebumps up my arm. Song Yi’s demur sweetness was so right for this part. Her character, Liu Yu Ru, is portrayed as a high intellectual and a quick learner, becoming the asset to her husband and the longing of other men.

Quote: This business is about Military supplies. Confucius said, “To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business and sincerity; economy and expenditure and love for men; and employment of people at the proper time”. Husband teaching wife what the client needs to hear. From Destined

This RomCom is a high Yes! from me.

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Love that grows from strength to strength

A beautifully told tale of a love story that started out as an accident and evolved into a relationship of trust and genuine love. No unnecessary misunderstandings and jealousies to tear them apart was much appreciated. Instead their obstacles were the situations they were placed in.

A love triangle of sorts, the villain turned out to be victim of circumstances but the flashback sequences of him with the FL was sweet and gave you the usual “if only” wishes hoping he had it better growing up. The reveal during his end was not unexpected but good enough to tie up his storyline.

The star of this drama is the ML. Watching him grow from a carefree, playful person to one who sacrifices himself to fight for the good of the people was the highlight of this drama. Kudos to the scriptwriter for some of the most intelligent and interesting dialogue for this character. He delivers it so well and righteously in keeping with his character’s personality.

It was also nice to see the FL transform from originally resigning to her fate of just being a typical wife to having her own aspirations in business. However, this changes seem too jarring at times, one of which was when she went from crying on her wedding night to suddenly being extra gung-ho as she led men to the entertainment house to chase down the her husband. Brandishing a sword to get him was a nice humorous touch. However, her revealing all her marriage aspirations and how the ML ruined it in front of the many people in there felt so wrong. A normal person would have some reservations about sharing such private information in public, what more she had just spent years learning about a family’s code of conduct. Overly dramatic. (also found it strange she had no reaction when she saw her original target husband in the crowd there)

Watching her start her first business showed some smart moments but not fleshed out enough as she quickly turned things around after 2 weeks of slow sales. Not enough moments to make me believe she is this super business person especially when she was in the capital and when she was lying low during the 3 years.

One of my favourite parts would have to be in Wangdu and how the ML defended it with just 10,000 men against an army 10x bigger. I loved both his confrontations with his uncle here - perfect lines perfectly delivered!

Didn’t care much for the palace storyline with the new Emperor suddenly being sick all the time compared to when he was just a Commissioner. Liked the Empress Dowager and her daughter even less especially their senseless meddling. The twist here became too convenient and a few extra scenes on how it happened would have been better.

The ending was good enough, showing us what happened with all the main characters and how some of them still go on despite not having a spouse. A definite must watch if you are a fan of the ML as he was truly in his element in this drama.

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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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Historical Drama Done Right (Not too slow, not too fast and not too much nonsense).

The show started of with being a simple forced marriage historical drama (which I really enjoy but are unmemorable), becomes a great character development show with business on the side (amazing); and completely plays an uno-reverse card shifting the light hearted tone and becomes a full on survival drama (WTF) and then to a series focused on war (I don't like fighting). I would lie if I was not burned out seeing too much drama on the show; however, it is the execution of all of these genres flawlessly that makes me appreciate the show so much.

I came into this show looking for something simple-lighthearted but left being exhausted and satisfied at the same time. The main leads had zero chemistry at the start and felt out of place in a historical drama but they really developed into something else in a good pace and believable manner. At the end no one doubted their love and bond and both became capable on their own rights.

The mother-in-law was the favorite character among all of them. She made some serious moves that not only felt refreshing, such as giving the female lead most of the power in her house-hold, but also gave her all the facilities to thrive in a male led business environment.

However, the villain seemed dumb as hell and came out of no where. His decision made no sense, as he wanted to help her as a friend but ended up harming her all the time. I don't get these one dimensional villains and why they cant have a life outside being a villain.

My main gripe is that I wanted more of their simple lives before episode 10. In other shows I feel jaded when they stick to one thing and nothing happens in most episodes but the director really took it seriously and really wanted to change things too much every episode. He did a great job at portraying the hardships is just that I would rather have less action and drama than lighthearted fun.

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The story started off really intriguing. The first 10 episodes just kept making me want to watch it more and more. The roles fit the main leads very well, and the drama was off to a great start.

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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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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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 purpose

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The Disappointing De-evolution of Destined

I started watching this drama without seeing any spoilers or even a trailer, and I was genuinely impressed by the first episode. Destined started out with great promise: well-written, realistic characters with room to grow, and flaws and vulnerabilities that made them feel like real people. The ML was one of the best emotionally portrayed characters I've seen recently.

However, cracks in the storytelling started appearing around episodes 10–12, and by episode 14, the immersion was completely shattered. What began as a grounded historical romance devolved into fantasy and propaganda.

The Breaking Point: Episode 14
Episode 14 was simply too much of a stretch. The ML is suddenly fighting off a massive group of fully armed, trained soldiers and guards all on his own (his martial arts skills became way too over-the-top). Then, the FL shows up on a horse in the middle of a literal battle, maneuvering in a perilously tiny space, to escape with the injured ML. What the hell was this?

Even if the writers wanted to prove the leads' bravery and loyalty, the execution felt cheap and forced. Worse, it ruined the emotional stakes built up until then. All the themes of friendship, brotherhood, and loyalty in this episode felt like cheap ploys to get the audience's sympathy, and their deaths ultimately felt hollow and disingenuous. At least Matriarch Ye was saved from screen disgrace by having her death happen off-screen.

Broken Character Logic & Propriety
One of the most frustrating aspects is how the drama sacrifices character consistency for the sake of plot:

The Luo Zishang Situation: Earlier, Yuru asks her husband's permission just to do a business deal in a crowded restaurant (which her in-laws already approved). Yet later, she just runs off in the middle of the night, completely unescorted, just because she saw a letter.

Zero Sense of Danger: Her husband tells her to stay put (although it's laughable that he kind of just abandons her with his friend in the middle of nowhere to run off and save the day). Even if she found out their ships were exposed, what was she hoping to achieve by meeting Luo, a man she didn't even know? Her sense of safety, propriety, and status vanished entirely.

A Weak Villain: Luo Zishang has no real charisma; it feels like he’s only there because the actor is handsome and has fans. The villain crying over the FL is wildly out of place—he knew her for maybe a few days in their childhood at best. The emotional attachment is sloppily written and unearned.

Historical Realism vs. Fantasy Power Trip
I don't expect CDramas to be 100% historically accurate, but the world needs to feel believable. Instead, the writing underplays real-life historical troubles.

Unearned Female Empowerment: The show attempts to break historical taboos regarding gender inequality but underplays the actual weight and danger of the era. The real historical weight of her situation is hidden; instead, she is grandly lifted up by society and male characters, which feels far-fetched and unfair to history.

The Vanity Issue: Aside from one major exception, the characters are always spotless and in full makeup. (I will give the show credit here: they actually portrayed the leads in a very realistic, haggard way during their perilous, arduous journey from Yangzhou to Youzhou 👍). But otherwise, the styling is lazy. When the female characters have to cross-dress as men—almost a requirement in historical CDramas now—it’s like the production doesn't even try to make them look male.

The "Youzhou" Slump
Once they reach Youzhou, the characters stop being real people and turn into flawless heroes whose judgment is never wrong. They just topple the old guard and rule.

Ironically, the romance actually gets stale to watch after their misfortune. It becomes a repetitive, unnecessary subplot where the same scenes are recycled in different ways. Furthermore, the show develops a compulsive need to constantly praise the main leads and their good deeds. It happens so often throughout the runtime that it gets annoying, feeling less like character development and more like unnecessary exposition dumps to remind viewers how "perfect" they are.

Final Verdict: The characters and plot felt real at the beginning, but the writing eventually lost its way. I dropped it because the story and romance simply didn't feel worthwhile anymore.

(Written with the help of GenAI)

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Illogical Story, Cute Characters

The bad:

-Very convenient plot points that are hilariously unrealistic. Out of all the places of certain characters to appear, in a massive city, they just coincidentally stumble upon other relevant characters, with no prior knowledge or plan. And this happens far too many times that my suspension of disbelief couldn't be maintained.

-Also, some of the acting is way too theatrical - namely, Gu Jiusi's right hand servant Mu Nan. You do not need to exaggerate those expressions, we can very well infer what you're feeling at the moment, dude. And even Liu Yuru sometimes, whose crying can sound like an adult imitating the cries of a toddler.

-Unrealistically tragic, to the point that things don't make sense. How does a single commissioner get away with massacring an entire city of nobles with the little army he has, and nobody in the city rebels against him? Really? Nobody's fighting back? He can just seize their assets without consequences?

-Another thing that is annoying is how long and dragged out some of the shots are. You don't need to spend five entire minutes zooming into every character's faces multiple times to show us how they're feeling, and it makes me laugh sometimes. If your audience is laughing at moments that wasn't intended to be funny, you've got a writing problem. You also don't need to spend ten minutes having a character verbally go into detail about how they're feeling, as though they're narrating their mental state as a therapist would describe it. Which is also unrealistic - it's very boring writing to have the characters so aware of their subconscious problems. Show, don't tell.

-Episode 23 was stupid as hell? Yuru barely disguises herself, goes into the HEART of enemy territory and thinks that nobody would recognize her. "They've only met me once all those months ago, surely they won't remember." Girl?????????? Do you think the enemy is stupid???? The next moment we see the enemy alerting their bosses about her. They're not even trying with the writing anymore, just pushing plot along regardless how out of character and silly it makes the characters.

The good:

-Gu Jiusi's actor is superb, if a tiny bit theatrical at times too. But I've seen him in other media, and he's a very natural actor. I wonder if that exaggerated style of acting is a preference of the director's.

-The sets are beautiful and the design of the costumes are splendid as well. But the rags they had to wear - where did they find them? Why do they look completely different from the clothes they started their journey with?? To make it more believable, they should use tattered versions of their previous clothes, not fashionably designed rags.

-The chemistry between Gu Jiusi and Liu Yuru is very lovely and adorable. Especially the first quarter of the drama, they had me laughing out loud at times. No drawn out misunderstandings, no immature jealousy, no petty fights. It's a very healthy romantic relationship that has you feeling all fluffy for them.

-I do still want to know what happens next, which means the writing isn't irredeemable. I think it's an interesting premise, even though it's still just your everyday palace politics cdrama, but there is enough intrigue to keep me on.

-It has tropes that I personally like - namely, the female character getting injured/fake dying while the male love interest doesn't know that she's still ok. Too often it's the male characters dying or getting injured to protect the female characters, so I like the reverse of it.

Overall:

I would recommend this if you're looking for something to watch casually. This isn't addictive so you won't be losing sleep or messing up your day schedule. It's good to pass the time with if you like something that has humour, tragedy, romance, intrigue, and don't care about using your brain too much.

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