Serendipity

unfortunately pretty much a failure

I went in this with not much expectation with that kind of plot and it ended being worst than expected.

So, let starts with some positive points before my rant :
- I actually like a lot the costumes and styling
- acting was okay
- music was okay
- not really good, but still a happy ending
- the friendship between the ladies and the guys
- side couple : this romance was pretty good, I liked the flow of it, but not enough scenes in my opinion. they sometimes disappeared for episodes and they were some of the only interesting parts. How it started as arranged marriage, but affection, trust and love gradually came
- I like ML’s mom relationship with him and FL

so now the rant :
- SML and « Love triangle » : what a pain to watch and it lasted for more than 30 eps. SML was the literal third wheel and the leech that you can’t get ride off. he was the kind guy, but why did he had so many screentime and always appearing. At time, I was like finally a scene with the leads, but didn’t last long before he appeared. Don’t get the people who wanted FL to end up with him, she never liked him, she rejected him and he still wanted to try ? and he wasn’t minding his business. Him confronting ML and that like deal they made, so weird. ML accepting that was weird too. But no wonder some liked him better, he had a lot of screentime with FL and they made so little importance on the leads for a while. I was happy when he said to his aunt that it was a misunderstanding (the edict for marriage) and that he wanted to annul it, but the next scene of him talking to FL, after she said it wasn’t possible with ML, he started talking about her giving him a chance, etc… (I honestly fast-forwarded, don’t know what happened after). Can’t believe this guy🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️. even if ML didn’t existed, she wouldn’t like you. when she had no memories, she wasn’t attracted to him or feeling, it was only friendship. he didn’t had much to the story at all, his only purpose was what, helping FL ? Something he did to help could have been done by someone else, like saving ML in prison, in the end the dad acted.
- The amnesia lasted way too long, more than 30 eps. And after that, the leads broke up and it was just annoying. I can understand a bit FL, but she was still annoying. I thought after knowing she wasn’t his sister the story would progress more, but not really
- way too long, this didn’t need to be 40 eps. Boring and not interesting for most of the drama. Feel like nothing was happening, filler and boring side plot to the detriment of the relationship between the leads that wasn’t well written and not enough scenes or whatever. They were playing brother and sister for too long and not enough build up for a good romance, just like The Rise of Ning in which the romance was disappointing. Should have cut out that whole love triangle with ML’s mom or the third couple who in the end gave nothing interesting. It was only kinda weird that whole thing with his mother, they even edited out their kissing scene. and some side plot along the way and SML. Feel like maybe not enough focus on the case of ML's mentor or FL's family massacrer in general
- feel like they could have had good chemistry, but it couldn’t shine brightly. Kissing scenes were okay at best. they got back together end of ep 37. so they were together for max 5 eps ? I skipped some parts, don’t remember but dating era was short lived before the breakup. they had some few scenes that succeeded at making me smiles and that weren’t too bad. Another drama marked as romance that has almost no romance
- the last few eps with the revenge, the prince trying to take the throne, etc… were nothing exciting
- Poor choices from the director. I read scenes between the leads were cut and even the side couple. Saw a picture with their son, we never saw that. Just like in the last episode. FL « the bride » is here to snatch ML, but they edited it out??? ML is talking to that guy and next is them in the bridal chamber after the wedding that was never shown. What a big disappointment. And then, they talk and she’s like someone is missing, your sister. That was unnecessary dialogue

the leads character were okay to me. Never really disliked the ML like some comments I saw.

this drama is one of the worst drama I watched this year. This is not a drama to binge watch, watching it while it was airing everyday and watching at 2x made it more watchable

anyway, don’t watch this if you are a romance lover and you plan to watch this for the romance

the thriller part and revenge wasn’t much better

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Amnesia-dragging for 30+ Episodes with Decent Small Case Solving & Love of Friends

I think I added this to my watchlist for the SML and TML. It sounded interesting at the time. It's a good thing I go into all dramas without any expectations; saves from disappointment. This drama had a lot of potential but the main plot was literally the first two episodes and the last maybe 6. The rest was amnesia-dragging for 30 episodes with decent small case solving and love of friends.

Pros: The second couple stole the show even if they didn't get that much screen time. YSZ or Prince Rui (PR) was sexy as hell especially when he smiled and showed his dimples and his eyes could melt glaciers. Paired with SK, they were the cutest couple out of the 3.5 we had (the .5 was for mom with Marshal as we never found out how they ended up). Story is basically a fight for the throne with good prince vs evil prince that involves multiple people whose entire family gets wiped out as they learn of the conspiracy and try to tell the emperor but are intercepted. This happens to both FL and TFL. However, FL learns of this and is chased by assassins so she falls off the cliff and gets amnesia for over 30 episodes. The ML being her childhood crush who rejected the creepy groom snatching and was drugged to boot for an impromptu wedding to FL, cruelly rejected her thinking she was just some spoiled little rich girl. He had tunnel vision of vindicating his master posthumously as he and his entire family got slaughtered by bandits working for the creepy prince under the assumption of corruption which was a frame job; he was also TFL's father. But when he found FL at the bottom of the cliff, he rescued her and made her believe she was his younger sister as they headed towards the capital. After learning of her family's slaughter as well, he promised to himself to keep her safe no matter what, now he had to find out and vindicate two families but refused to tell her. He fulfilled that promise but feelings obviously grew between them and it was getting creepy sometimes.

The SML was a great character though sadly the third wheel. I really liked the character because not only did he help in anyway he could with all the villains running around but he saved the FL many times and after her rejection, he didn't become obsessed though it broke his heart. He considered the ML his good friend and sworn brother. Rivals in love but absolutely no animosity otherwise. People may disagree with me but his ending was appropriate. No, he didn't get the girl but why should he forget her? He made peace with it and continued his duties as our prince took the throne; he was content with his life.

What I liked about the show was also one of the things I disliked; it involved many cases of getting women out bad relationships or away from other hardships. FL ever the smart one opened up a jewelry business in the capital and what was equivalent to a day care center and a shelter for abused women was also part of the store. Though she lost all of her memories including her own name, she hadn't forgotten how to run a jewelry business or apparently solve cases either. She was whip smart and could figure things out almost immediately.

Other characters that were good were ML's mom, the marshal, ML's friend and guard YX, the three women she became sworn sisters with, one being SFL and married to the prince and later became the empress, all with FL's help. Even ML's father though seemingly useless, just ass kissing whomever in power, made up for it by sacrificing his life to save his son and FL. The creepy evil prince was a great antagonist as this actor proves time and time again. He has a way to make your skin crawl.

Sets were ok, nothing amazing. Same went for costumes and OSTs.

Cons: As I mentioned above the story made me like it and not so much because the main plot of vindicating two sets of families went on the back burner after the second episode and was only picked up in the last 6 something episodes. Now while I liked the mini subplots, I wish they remembered the main plot in the middle too. The amnesia arc dragged on for far too long. And it seems that each time she got hit on the head and was unconscious, she'd start remembering something. It was kind of ridiculous and unbelievable.

Both leads had an issue with emoting. It seemed like they were stone faced most of the time. Though the FL did smile, everything was tempered down and felt rather dull. You get second lead syndrome here a lot; despite the fact that ML was destined to end up with the FL, the chemistry; to me at least didn't have the same level as she had with SML, who basically wore all of his emotions on his sleeve.

The third couple were so unnecessary and I didn't like TFL at all; she wanted to get revenge for her father but the way she went about was just cruel and crazy. At times I thought she was crazier than the creepy prince. She did seem to pull it together the end but her death was weird after she herself killed said prince; I have no idea how she ended up stabbed also. Their relationship was one of the creepiest ever; he had mommy issues so when she dressed up in similar clothing, he fell for her meanwhile she had Stockholm like syndrome. It was all very bizarre and nuts. First he would beat her up for failing to carry out his tasks, then he would tend to her wounds wanting her to be his wife and all this other shit. Like it was so revolting, you wanted to ffw.

A lot of characters didn't have proper endings but just disappeared like ML's mom, the Marshal, that Qi bodyguard who it looked like had a thing for TFL; there seemed to be 3 love triangles going on in the show. The ending was very anticlimactic in general. Honestly, I have forgotten probably half of the bad things because I couldn't write for 4 days.

Would I recommend it? Only if you have nothing else to watch. It's a good in between drama. It's not bad, it's decent plus most of the actors did pretty well.

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A Love Triangle That Doesn’t Leave a Bad Taste

At first glance, Serendipity might seem like your typical trope-heavy drama - love triangle, amnesia, fake siblings-to-lovers, dramatic cliff falls, all that. But here's what makes it special: the way these familiar elements are woven together creates something fresh and engaging. The Chinese title 榜上佳婿 "Top Scholar Son-in-Law" has a totally different meaning, providing a different vibe. It's currently rated below 8/10 on MDL, and I want to explain why this hidden gem deserves more love.

Why the Low Ratings?
First, there's the cultural context. In Chinese tradition, marrying someone you were raised with as a sibling (but aren't blood-related to) was completely acceptable. Many Chinese families especially in ancient times, adopted children who later married their sons and daughters. Many historical dramas feature this setup as well, but international viewers often find it uncomfortable. That cultural gap likely contributed to the mixed ratings - while Chinese platforms give it a solid above 8/10, some international viewers could have marked it down for this reason alone.

Then there's the dreaded Second Male Lead Syndrome. Song Qing Zhao is everything you'd want - noble, kind, gentle and hopelessly devoted. With a wealthy and powerful family related to the royal family, it's easy to root for such a charming man, and many viewers were so disappointed when he didn't get the girl that they could have tanked the ratings. But love stories aren't always about who seems perfect on paper.

Another reason for the low ratings is the chemistry debate. Lu Chang’s initial coldness toward Jian Ming Shu does create an interesting dynamic—but for some viewers, it also makes their eventual romance feel less convincing. At first, Lu Chang rejects Ming Shu so firmly that it turns off many viewers. This is why many argue the couple lacks natural chemistry, compared to Ming Shu’s warm, easygoing dynamic with Song Qing Zhao.

Song Qing Zhao, with his gentle humor and open affection, seems like the more natural match for Ming Shu’s lively personality. Their scenes together radiate comfort and playfulness, while Lu Chang’s lingering emotional walls make his romantic shift harder to buy—at least at first.

That said, the story does plant subtle clues that Lu Chang’s feelings run deeper than he lets on. His protectiveness, lingering glances, and quiet sacrifices for Ming Shu suggest his coldness is more about self-control (he's supposed to be her brother) than indifference. For viewers who prefer slow-burn tension over instant sparks, this makes their eventual love story rewarding. But if you’re someone who values overt warmth in a pairing, it’s easy to see why Song Qing Zhao feels like the better fit.

Ultimately, whether you ship the main couple or prefer the second lead comes down to what you value in a love story: gradual emotional thawing, or effortless compatibility. Both perspectives are valid—but they’re also why this love triangle sparks such passionate debates!

The Story
The Chinese title 榜上佳婿 ("Top Scholar Son-in-Law") refers to a fascinating historical tradition. When imperial exam results were posted, wealthy families would literally camp out at the bulletin board to "catch" the top scholars (like Lu Chang, who becomes the valedictorian) as potential husbands for their daughters. These scholars were guaranteed prestigious government positions, making them the ultimate catches.

This is exactly what Jian Ming Shu, who’s been in love with Lu Chang since childhood, does at the start. When Lu Chang becomes the top scholar, she fights to claim him first. But Lu Chang is reluctant and resents her for forcing him to marry her.

After her family is murdered, Jian Ming Shu escapes but loses her memory after a cliff fall. Rescued by Lu Chang, she's passed off as his sister "Lu Ming Shu" for protection. Their investigative partnership brings them closer, even as Song Qing Zhao enters the picture, unaware they're not really siblings.

The love triangle develops beautifully - there's humor (the guys' jealousy is hilarious—Lu Chang even gifted Ming Shu a puppy named Zhao Zhao, a homophone of Qing Zhao), tension (Ming Shu's guilt over loving her "brother"), and genuine emotion. The dynamic between the three is sweet and funny. Meanwhile, they're unraveling political conspiracies, with Prince Yu as the clear but untouchable villain as Lu Chang lacks the evidence to expose him. Every witness he finds ends up dead, making his mission even harder.

Acting & Characters
Lu Chang (Wang Zi Qi) – At first, he’s cold and focused only on his goals, rejecting Ming Shu’s advances. But as they spend more time together, he slowly falls for her. Wang Zi Qi nails the transition from indifferent scholar to a man deeply in love. His subtle expressions—especially when he’s pretending not to care while Ming Shu gets close to Song Qing Zhao—are gold.

Jian Ming Shu (Lu Yu Xiao) – Smart, compassionate, and a talented jewelry maker, Ming Shu has loved Lu Chang since childhood. Even with amnesia, her heart still pulls her toward him. Some viewers criticize Lu Yu Xiao’s posture (she slouches next to more elegant actors), but I wonder if that was intentional to make Ming Shu feel more relatable. Either way, her performance is heartfelt by portraying a spirited yet vulnerable Ming Shu.

Song Qing Zhao (Wang Hong Yi) – Noble, kind, and hopelessly in love with Ming Shu, he’s the perfect second lead. Wang Hong Yi plays him with so much charm that it’s no surprise fans were devastated when he didn’t end up with the girl.

Final Verdict
Serendipity has its flaws (like Lu Chang getting paddled on the butt but somehow lying on his back afterward), but it's a wonderfully executed historical romance. This is one of the best love triangles I’ve seen. The title 榜上佳婿 is the key to understanding Lu Chang and Ming Shu's entire relationship. From reluctant "caught scholar" to genuine love, their journey is what makes this drama special.

And yes, many viewers were too busy rooting for the SML to notice all the hints that the main leads were meant to be—like sharing wedding wine (even at the beginning), matching bracelets, and accidental love bites. The cultural elements, engaging love triangle, and political intrigue make it far better than its ratings suggest. If you enjoy dramas where the leads actually earn their happy ending, don't miss this one.

Serendipity isn’t a blockbuster, but it’s a well-told, enjoyable story with great chemistry and just enough drama. Don’t let the ratings scare you off—this one’s worth watching.

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Story of dead dads

Overall:
This drama couldn't decide if it was thriller or romance and ended up only being a mystery. And there's nothing really Serendipitous about mass murder, is there, really?

Writing:
It's billed as thriller/mystery with romance being a side, which itself isn't a problem except the native title "bang shang jia xu", the trailers, the posters, the opening credits all give an easy romance drama vibe.

The romance is unsatisfactory despite the time allotted to it. A futile triangle with obvious end game. 2ML is upright but pitiful and ML is....where is he? Even an existing Wang Zi Qi fan like me did not fall for him. FL is a great sleuth but I just didn't catch any feels. Where were the heart fluttering scenes? I was more invested in secondary couple and parent triangle.

I liked that there is a big plot that unveiled after a series of smaller obstacles. The mystery is good but not thrilling. Never felt anyone was in any real danger because of the "easy watching" vibe and "get out of jail free" card (aka my pal, the prince).

Editing and pacing:
The show hook is good and first few mini mysteries are engaging but around episode 30 onwards, the show drags before the finale. I had to FF>> some episodes where next to nothing happens. You can tell it's suffered a lot of chopping leaving behind vacuous filler. If you happen to get caught in the drag, it's worthwhile to skip to the last 2 or 3 episodes for the finale.

Cast:
A good line up, all great looking and gave a good performance. Just a shame that other than FL (and perhaps Su Tang Li) they weren't given an opportunity to show their acting potential.

Conclusion:
The show lacked focus, missed its targets, whether due to editing, direction or writing and it suffered.

Would I recommend?
Only if you really like Lu Yu Xiao, she is the *jewel* of the show.

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An Enjoyable Watch

I started this drama because I liked the title, it sounds so romantic. I know the the ML, FL and of course, 2ML, from their previous works.

ML wanted to protect FL, hence made her his sister (she had an amnesia so she didn't remember her past). It gets a bit icky when the two of them started to have feelings for each others. But remember, ML always knows Ming Su is not his real sister. And FL used to be in love with ML (they almost got married at one stage), so they can't help it when the feelings creeps back in.

I like how the drama unfolds. It brings new characters every few episodes, which some ends up connected to others.

I've only seen Wang Zi Qi at The Love You Give Me. I think he looks so much better now. His shoulder seems wider? It gives the feeling of dependable and security, which is needed as he's playing a role of the man of his house (his father died when he was young).

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Second Lead Syndrome Has Never Hurt This Bad

First of all, I need to say it: the male lead? A walking red flag wrapped in pretty packaging. I was practically begging the FL to open her eyes—girl, your first love may be nostalgic, but the better option is right there waving with green flags! And what does she do? She chooses the red flag anyway. Classic.

I actually dropped the drama the moment MS started falling for LC. It just felt… weird. No chemistry, all awkward energy. Like, am I the only one who saw sibling vibes and not slow-burn romance?

And let’s talk about the crime of the century: giving JMS and SQZ all that sweet romantic buildup, only to shove them aside for an ending we all knew was coming—but were still hoping wouldn’t. I was rooting for literally everyone except the male lead. If you’re going to make me feel things, at least let it be for a couple that actually makes sense!

But hey, no shade if you loved it. Everyone has their taste. I’m just here to loudly and dramatically mourn the second male lead (again).

Still mildly recommend it… for the rage and the side couples.

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Decent romance and love triangle but full of plot holes in the second half

Despite a low rating, I really want to give “Serendipity” a try because I like the leads, Wang Zi Qi and Lu Yu Xiao. I adjusted my expectations yet I still come out disappointed. The romance is the least of my worries, because I have more complaints about the writing and the many plot holes. “Serendipity” also doesn’t seem to have a large budget and that also affected my viewing pleasure.

Plot/Pace
The general plot is nothing we’ve never seen before, especially if you have been a long time C-historical fan. And that is OK with me if the execution is done right. The characters are all so smart and can do no wrong (esp. Our male and female leads). I actually enjoy the first half of the drama when the focus is on the new-found family, developing sibling relationship, romance, women empowerment and solving small mysteries. The drama actually did a pretty good job in having all these developed side-by-side and intertwined with each other. But then, the amnesia lasted too long. The love triangle lasted too long. The happy moments of the couple lasted too short. The last 10 episodes were primarily on futile repetitive assassination attempts, plotting for revenge, continuing with the investigation and palace politics. Plot holes are everywhere (poisonous food, poisonous blood, poisonous gas, standing around and doing nothing to save lives, a small knife can kill someone in full armor, etc). Actions by the characters become illogical to just move the story along. The drama lost my attention in the last 5-10 episodes and I don’t care how the villain is going to end.

Acting
I guess another disappointment is the average acting by the cast. I’ve seen Wang Zi Qi and Lu Yu Xiao in plenty of other dramas. Even though Wang Zi Qi has never amazed me, I have never called average. He’s average here and I don’t think it’s because of his character. I’ve been a fan of Lu Yu Xiao for a while and have loved her in many roles. Unfortunately, this is not one of them even though her character is smart, sweet and almost perfect. She’s fine and better than Wang Zi Qi, but still not up to my expectations. The rest of the main cast is OK with Yang Shi Ze being the worst of the bunch. He was so wooden and bland. The super ugly makeup is not helping either.

Romance
There are many complaints about the romance and many watchers have second lead syndrome. Not me! I was on the male lead, Lu Chang’s corner the whole time. I enjoy Lu Chang (ML) and Jiang Ming Shu’s (FL) romantic journey for the most part. The wedding scene in the first episode was heartbreaking but needed. I can see how ML was focused on other important matters instead of this girl who’s in love with him. I can see how he could have misunderstood who she really is. When the amnesia happens, I love how they start to get to know each other from the very beginning and fall in love with each other again. The progression is natural and realistic. Song Qing Zhao (2ML) seems like the perfect guy, but he never really had a chance. Both male leads are lovely and caring in their own way. ML cares in a more practical way (remembering to get a softer pillow and peeling longan shells), yet 2ML cares in a more sweet and romantic way (desserts, hairpin, dates). Unfortunately, this love triangle lasted way too long, but at least it was a very healthy love triangle. The secondary romance could have been cute, but not enough time is given to them to develop their romance properly. I wanted more on how 2ML/2FL slowly fall for each other.

Production
The first things I noticed and disliked about the production are the super ugly white makeup on nearly everyone, and that all the actors were dubbed. I have mixed feelings about the costumes and accessories. Sometimes I really like the styles, e.g. the wedding gowns and the emperor outfits in the end. At times, actors seemed to be wearing clothes a size too big or have layers of thick fabric draped all over them. The OST is fine but nothing extraordinary. The sets are average-looking but never give me a sense of grandeur.


I thought romance would be the area I will be most disappointed in but it ended up being the least of my worries. Romance is not perfect, but it’s what I enjoyed most in “Serendipity”. When the plot starts to get serious, that’s when plot holes start to happen. I am sad to say that this is probably not a drama I would recommend, unless you are super fans of the actors.


Other Random Observations:
1. ML is superman. He’s a scholar, crime investigator, action hero/fighter, lawyer and government official. He’s the smartest and can do no wrong.
2. One of the few C-dramas I see a prince walk around like a commoner with no bodyguards.
3. This prince also has a talent in finding a secret door in record time and minimal effort.
4. Did I see some sped up fight scenes and running?
5. Wang Zi Qi definitely looks better in a modern look. He does not look good at all here.




Completed: 6/1/2025 - Review #586

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In short, the father kidnaps his daughter's crush so they can get married. He refuses, and they part ways. Then her entire family is murdered. The sole survivor, while trying to escape her attackers, she falls off a cliff and loses her memory. By chance, her lover finds her and, to protect her, makes her believe they are siblings.
Willing to protect her even at the risk of his own life, he shows his care for her. At the same time, unaware of the feelings she harbored before the accident, she appreciates his closeness and appears at ease.
When a potential suitor presents himself, he finds it difficult to play the brotherly role because jealousy takes over.
Then she regains her memory and not only remembers the family's extermination, but also his rejection of the marriage. At that moment, their relationship change.

From episode 36 onward, I struggled to watch the series and took a break because the woman lead character was getting on my nerves.
In fact, resentful that he had rejected her a year earlier, she pushed him away and denied their love. Then she played detective to find out who was behind the deaths of her family, completely excluding him.
Thinking about how close he had been to her and how much he had done for her over the past year, I found her quite selfish and ungrateful.

In addition to the romantic interlude, there is the thriller part that forms the basis of the entire story.

The ending was a bit tight, but I liked it because all the issues were resolved, everyone received justice, the reforms were implemented, and last but not least, as the enterprising girl she has always been, she makes a symbolic gesture that recalls the past. I won't say more.

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