Fated Hearts

As a red-flag lover, this drama was a bad time.

The secondary couple should have been the main couple, and the story should have been about them.

They had stolen my heart and my attention to the point that when their storyline concluded, I gave up on the whole drama. It is a MAJOR design flaw in this production.

As usual, the production team who created this drama did a great job. The supporting casting is off the hook, the costumes are great, the styling is so amazing. The bgm/ost sounds recycled from SOKP and is a bit repetitive, but that's overlookable. What is not overlookable is the MOST interesting and captivating relationship dynamic in the story coming from two side characters who are then thoughtlessly discarded when they no longer serve the larger (and more boring) storyline.

Just aigoo...

7/10, because it's worth a one-time watch, but BARELY.

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Fated Hearts that endured and survived blades and betrayal!

The story opens with a literal bang... an opulent battlefield of alliances, betrayals and suspiciously perfect hair. From its gorgeous opening sequence to its jaw-tight political games, the show wastes no time in telling you this won’t be your average romance. It’s sharp, visually stunning, and occasionally unhinged in the best way for the most part.

Set against a backdrop of rival kingdoms, conspiracies, and family betrayals, it is a story about two people who should have been enemies but end up becoming something far more complicated. Feng Suige, the composed and battle-scarred Prince of Susha and Fu Yixiao, a woman from the opposing side with more grit than most generals, meet under all the wrong circumstances. There was tension, mistrust and that delicious sense of “I hate you, but I see you. What makes Fated Hearts stand out isn’t just the enemies-to-lovers premise because it isn’t exactly ground breaking, but the way it commits to every beat of that trope with unapologetic intensity.

Let’s start with our resident walking tragedy, Feng Suige, the killer God of Susha. He is smart, honourable as much as he can be, but definitely not unkind and naïve. I understand his apprehension in trusting people, taking into account how he has been burned by those too close to him.
Betrayal has somehow become a part of him but if honour had a face, it would probably look like him (minus a few pixels lost to that smoothing filter)

Then enters our dear Fu Yixiao as an absolute force. She is fierce, calculating, and capable of both saving and destroying kingdoms with the same serene expression. She isn’t written as your usual doe-eyed damsel. She is the kind of heroine who walks into a trap and somehow turns it into a negotiation. There is steel under all that poise and her intelligence isn’t just performative but tactical. She reads the room, measures risks, and still finds space for empathy. That's her biggest strength. All the fighting skills and wars haven't erased the softness inside her. In future, if I ever talk about strong Female lead, Yixiao will definitely make it to the list and sit in top 3 proudly! Li Qin as Yixiao devours every frame she is in, commanding when she needs to be, fragile and breakable when it hurts the most.

୨ৎ Chemistry Between The Leads ୨ৎ
The enemies-to-lovers trope lives or dies by chemistry, and this doesn’t just live but thrives, flips its hair and lights a torch while doing it. Their relationship doesn’t rely on clichés like “accidental hand brushes” or “he catches her when she falls.” No, this is the you burned down my city but I still can’t stop thinking about you variety of romance. Sounds toxic, but it was surprisingly very healthy.
What I loved about their relationship was how equal it felt. Equal in the sense that they both were damsels, but also saviours to each other. It wasn't just one way around. When the world stabbed him in the back, she was the one dragging him out of the dark and when she was falling apart, he was right there holding it together.

Some people were taken aback by the violence in the initial episodes (within their rights), but I felt it was very balanced because both of them matched the intensity. It wasn't a biased suffering, so it was excusable for me, and quite frankly, I enjoyed it as it actually justified the enemies part in the enemies-to-lovers trope.

୨ৎ Supporting Characters & Subplots ୨ৎ

The hall of fame for side characters had both saints and sinners. Some were vibrant and some infuriating.

Feng Xiyang: Princess of Susha, in my opinion, had a very good character development. Initially, she came off as privileged, naive and utterly selfish. I just couldn't reason with her when she was in the "I can fix him" phase. But over time, tragedy, betrayal and suffering finally tempered her senses for good. From naive to conniving, we saw a brand new version of her. I did feel sorry for her at the end but sadly, she can only blame herself for all the hell that came upon her.

Xia Jingshi & Xia Jingyan: They are equal parts velvet glove and landmine. Xia Jingyan is the loose wire. He was unsettling in a wild way but very entertaining. It was hard to figure out what he was thinking and what he would do. Very unpredictable but the kind of character that grew on me. Xia Jingshi is a beautiful silver-tongued snake. He is measured and strategic. He was the character I loved to hate. He had too much going on.

All the above three entertained me. Together, they brought the kind of energy that made me want to scream but also never look away to miss any drama.

The emperor of Susha: Feng Ping Cheng, as emperor was definitely smart and observant compared to other leaders I have seen in dramaland. He clearly knew who was on his side and how to manipulate things his way. He didn't just blindly trust. He was definitely interesting but existed in shades of grey.

Prime Minister Zhuang Shen: He was outwardly loyal but weaving webs of hate inside. He became the victim (I don't know if I should call him that) of one of his own elaborated schemes. His whole revenge was on the grief and obsession.

Empress Zhuang: She was the perfect example of what goes around comes around. I liked how her duality at times was portrayed, and while she was giving Cinderella's stepmother energy, I was still satisfied watching her manoeuvre through power and consequences.

Feng Cheng Yang: Our second prince of Susha is definitely the vibrant and likeable character in this hall of fame. Even though he was young, I liked how mindful and loyal he was without just blindly accepting things.

Lu Ke, Yun Gang & the Rest of the Feng battalion: I loved their camaraderie and the bond between them and the loyalty they showed towards Suige. I was hoping they stayed true to him till the end, and they didn't let their commander down.

Physician Ling Xue Ying: She mastered the art of giving unsolicited moral advice. From start to finish, there was something that irked me. Her "holier than thou" energy at the start was wild. I loved a good sismance but it felt forced with her.

Ning Fei & Xiao Wei Ran: The sworn brothers to our FL had an interesting journey. While it was harsh, all of them had the most logical and righteous end.

୨ৎ What Didn't work for me ୨ৎ
But this isn't without flaws. Starting visually, the infamous smoothing filter on the actors. Now it wasn't to a point that it distracts or takes me out of my viewing experience, but these people were gorgeous already. In my humble opinion, we didn't need their faces to look like polished marble. Again, it's not too much that I pause but enough for me to notice that beautify filter.

Then the OSTs and the background music, or should I say the overuse of it. It clearly screamed, "We paid for this song and by the heavens, we will use it.” I mean, the main OST was beautiful but when you hear the same thing cue for the 10th time, it stops being emotional. Some moments would have benefited from silence.

Coming to the most glaring issue, the pacing, especially in the last 10 episodes. The first half sprinted like they were trying to win a medal, and then suddenly… everyone decides to sit and brood for 4 episodes straight, avenging a decade-old revenge the story didn't remind us about. Yes, I am looking at you, Storm Alliance. It was very predictable and quickly became redundant. We could have definitely shortened it if skipping wasn't an option.

Another thing that felt more like a drizzle than the anticipated thunderstorm was the masked man reveal. The whole thing was so anti-climatic, I literally went, “Wait…that’s about it?” I am glad they didn’t drag it out, but it still landed flat.
The motivation behind the whole betrayal of all the antagonist were so thin you could spread it on toast and just taste the bread. I get making rash choices in the heat of the moment and out of emotions, but it just felt shallow. It was more on the lines of conflict for the sake of it! I expected more.

And if I talk about the ending, it felt incomplete. Like we had 38 episodes, to clearly gives us answers and tie all the plots and show what is everyone doing after the final battle, but it was fast forwarded to a narration. I am happy for the characters and where they are, but it could have been grand and clear.

୨ৎ Production ୨ৎ
The production was rich and flawless. The costumes deserve their own exhibition, especially Suige’s royal blue dress. Xiyang’s wedding scene was another visual flex. Cinematography was also stunning, from sweeping nature shots to those tearful closeups. They might have gone a bit heavy on the filter, but we have already talked about that.

୨ৎ Acting Performance ୨ৎ
Both the leads aced their roles. This was my first time seeing Li Qin on screen, and she has left me impressed. It looked like the role of the General was meant for her. I would definitely be looking forward to seeing more of her projects. Chen Zhe Yuan was also an apt fit for the role. He aced all the emotional scenes without overplaying it as well as the restrained expression when needed. Xia Meng was another good find. She, as Xiyang, was excellent. I tolerated her character for most parts of the drama. As they say, if you dislike a character, that means that the actor did a great job and she aced it. The Xia brothers brought their own charms, and it made it very difficult to dislike the characters when the actors were so charming, especially our unhinged Jingyan. Zhao Bin as emperor was solid, too. All the confrontation scenes were a treat to watch. Other actors across the board did a very fine job too. No complaints in this department.

୨ৎ Final Thoughts ୨ৎ
Overall, this is a good example of getting enemies-to-lovers to lovers 100% right. This isn't a fairy tale but more of an endurance test for leads and our hearts. Suige and Yixiao stole every scene with emotional payoffs off the charts while chaos surrounds them with scheming families avenging the long lost, collapsing empires and crown chasers everywhere.
It is not perfect in my books with pacing dips and a few draggy plotlines but it is still an addictive ride. I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you for reading my review! <3 I hope you enjoy this drama as much as I did or maybe more! ;)

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This drama is one of the few adaptations that managed to surpass the original novel.

Well done! The original novel is actually so-so.

I’m not a fan of Chen Zheyuan and Li Qin but this show made me love them very much! Amazing actors. I hope they will have more dramas together with plenty of action!

Acting and casting is SO ON POINT. I especially loved the fight scenes of Fu Yixiao at the beginning, Fu Yixiao and Xiao Weiran, then Feng Suige’s fight with Xia Jingshi. Feng Suige’s jump with that sword was top-notch amazing haha!

Except for the occasional excessive twirling (LOLS) and repetitive OST, I loved every bit of it. But the ending is too short. Would love to see more of it.

Glad Ning Fei and Ling Xueying is still the endgame like in the novel.

I also would like to know whatever happened to Ling Feng and An Gu! Both of them on drugs when they left LOLOL

I wished they’ve shown Feng Chengyang going into seclusion, Feng Xiyang managing the court, and some scenes where the three siblings were reunited.

How I wish Xia Jingyan’s child survived.. ? I cried when he started begging for Feng Xiyang to be spared. He really liked Xiyang, can see it all the time. Good actor!

NOW I WANT MORE DRAMA FROM CHEN ZHE YUAN AND LI QIN!

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Bloody Revenge with Boatload of Deaths

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

“Fated Hearts” was universally praised throughout its airing days and the expectations are high. I came in trusting these rave reviews and the drama did not disappoint. Though I like it very much, I might not have loved it enough to give it a 9+ rating.


Plot/Pacing
The plot of enemies-to-lovers has always been one of my favorites. Adding to that are two very strong (physically and mentally) main leads, excellent chemistry/disgust for each other, and incredibly well-paced plot lines throughout the full 38 episodes. “Fated Hearts” did an excellent job in introducing Fu Yi Xiao (FL) and Feng Sui Ge (ML) simultaneously through parallel and intersecting stories. I greatly enjoy the first half of the drama when the focus is on all the main characters and the setting is in Susha. There’s equal screen time dedicated to both FL and ML’s stories, and also their development from enemies to lovers. However, towards the second half, I miss seeing everyone together. I kept on hearing viewers talk about ep 28, and I wondered what that is all about. It’s basically the end of the big ‘villains’ in Susha, and the start of the next arc. From the Wind Alliance arc, Yi Xiao and Sui Ge started off having their own adventures, while secondary leads, Princess Feng Xi Yang (2FL) and Prince Xia Jing Shi (2ML) continued with theirs in Jinxiu. Even though the Wind Alliance arc didn’t take up too much time, it also doesn’t seem to be very necessary. But since this mysterious place was mentioned, I’m not surprised we got to find out what that is all about. Unfortunately, I find the pacing to be a little off when we have two concurrent storylines happening in two countries. It’s hard to go back and forth between them to keep up on all the excitement. Having said that, I still think each couple’s arc individually was exciting and interesting. The pacing might be a little weird, but it’s definitely not slow or draggy. The last couple episodes ended with a bang with exciting confrontations and action scenes. I love the end of the trio of ‘brothers’: Fu Yi Xiao, Ning Fei and Xiao Wei Ran. Their last moment together hit me with all the feels.

Romance
As I said, I love enemies-to-lovers and it’s especially amazing when you have two equally strong lovers coming together and they are on equal footing in a relationship. FL and ML really are the same type of people: smart, ruthless, will give you an eye for an eye, yet loyal, caring, honest, communicative and supportive of each other. They are partners-in-crime and also soulmates. This mature romance has some skinship (decent kisses, holding hands and hugging), a lot of actions in supporting and caring for each other (you know, they will kill for those you don’t have the heart to kill). They understand each other so well that no explanation of action is necessary. But, I can’t deny I wanted just a little bit more sweet scenes. They could have eliminated a certain event that happened to ML in the Wind Alliance arc, and save those screen time for sweet and romantic moments. LOL As for secondary leads and their ‘romance’, I am glad to see that it went the other direction instead of the common rom-com way for secondary leads. I love a good unrequited and one-sided love, and I was hoping they would stay that way. But did it go the way I wanted? I’m not telling you. The other romances offer a contrast to the main romance, thus giving us a different flavor and something different. None of the romances are sizzling hot, but that’s not the point anyway. The chemistry is that of angst and maturity, hate and love, but they are never sexual or sensual.

Acting
I’m a fan of Li Qin and really enjoy her not being pigeon-holed into one type of female lead. Her strongest acting for me before this drama was in “War of Faith”. I think she outshone herself with her performance here in “Fated Hearts”. We’ve seen quite a few female generals lately but she’s the best out of them. Her eyes pierce through enemy lines. Her posture and strength showed. There’s no delicacy but just a force of nature. Her emotional scenes were great. Chen Zhe Yuan was great as well, but I might like his overall acting in “The White Olive Tree” just a teeny tiny bit better. Having said that, the most memorable scene for me was the confrontation between ML, the emperor (ML’s father) and FL in the former empress house. That was one hell of an acting powerhouse exchange at the end of ep 24 to beginning of 25. I was so tense watching them. Xia Meng played a beautiful princess who has quite a character development. She was lovely as the innocent princess who’s so in love that she thinks she could change her man. Wrong! But as her character changes, Xia Meng’s acting got better. I really liked Chen He Yi when I saw him in the rom-com “The Perfect Match” and thought his role there matches his personality well. But seeing him here, Chen He Yi has such a nice guy face that it’s hard for me to imagine him as the ruthless Prince. He was better in the last episode when he was seeking revenge, but other than that, he looks very handsome yet the acting doesn’t quite match up. I was excited to see Zuo Ye but I felt that his character as Murong Yao was a little disappointing. He was great as the playboy but we only see glimpses of his excellent acting against Chen Zhe Yuan in a couple confrontation scenes when his other personality came out. Unfortunately, we rarely see this other personality anymore as the story progresses. A surprise for me is Qin Tian Yu, who played the crazy Emperor of Jinxiu. In contrast to Chen He Yi’s acting, this crazy emperor is so much more interesting. Qin Tian Yu is a scene stealer and his last scenes showed great emotional depth. “Fated Hearts” also has a large supporting cast of veterans (who are awesome) and the younger generation (who are pretty good too). I’m glad there isn’t any characters that I hate or annoy me to death.

Production
There’s money poured into “Fated Hearts” as you can see from the beautiful and grand sets throughout the drama. I was amazed to see grand bedroom doors, open meeting spaces and rooms that are beautifully decorated. The costumes, hairstyles, jewelry and accessories are all detailed and of high quality. The royal family looks exquisite! Did you see the sequins in the two male leads’ costumes? Li Qin looks gorgeous in red and black, and I love that they did not adorn her with excessive jewelry but just a simple but gorgeous wig. She’s a fighter after all. The action scenes are well-choreographed and hard-hitting. There’s no flailing, twirling or standing around doing nothing. There are a ton of fights throughout the drama and everyone looks fierce. There are a few shaky camera shots during these fights that I didn’t quite like. The music is fine. None of the songs left a lasting memory for me but they also don’t sound out of place. I guess my biggest disappointment is that everyone was dubbed by voice actors except for Chen Zhe Yuan. I would have loved to hear Li Qin’s voice as well.


I had a great time binge-watching this drama over the weekend. The pacing is great, the acting is solid and the production quality high. I might have a minor complaint here and there, but this is a drama worth watching and I would definitely recommend it. I guess the special sauce that’s missing for me is that emotional impact after the drama ends. I am satisfied and things wrapped up somewhat nicely. However, I didn’t feel especially happy or sad.


Other Random Observations:
1. First scene - using soft peacock feathers on the arrow to avoid it being caught easily. So smart!
2. There are many shots of hands clenching.
3. A woman should never think she can change a man.
4. The other amnesia plot is quite useless.
5. My personal pet peeves: soldiers and generals should not look so white. Shouldn’t they be in the sun all the time?


Completed: 10/19/2025 Review #634

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A Standout Enemies-to-Lovers Drama with a Fierce Female Lead

This is hands down the best enemies-to-lovers drama I’ve watched this year.

Li Qin absolutely kills it as Fu Yi Xiao, a legendary archer and fierce female fighter. She brings power, grace, and grit to every scene, and her martial arts are sharp, clean, and just downright badass from episode 1 all the way through.

The drama ws high quality and fast-paced, with the two leads constantly challenging each other — no soft moments here. What makes it stand out to me i believe is that while the romance is definitely there, it’s not front and center. Instead, it simmers in the background, making the tension between Fu Yi Xiao and Feng Sui Ge even more compelling. Their chemistry wass stronger than I expected because of the agae gap between the Leads, however they’re easily the best part of the show.

That said, a few side plots and secondary characters (looking at you, overly naive princess) drag things down a bit and don’t match the sharpness of the main storyline. Plus, while the show leans on a few familiar tropes, it still feels fresh thanks to the leads and the way romance takes a back seat.

Overall, this drama is a fun, action-packed ride with a standout female lead and a slow-burn dynamic that really works. Definitely worth watching.

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This serie is among the top 5 best Chinese dramas of 2025 in my opinion

It is a magnificent historical drama, created with deep emotion, where the director and screenwriter explore the human soul — power, loyalty, and the madness born of love.

Every character acts out of love: for a mother, a son, a country, or an ideal… yet that very love often becomes their downfall, and at times — a true obsession.

Feng Sui Ge — straightforward, sincere, free of political ambition but driven by a deep thirst for revenge — embodies a rare inner nobility.
Beside him, Yi Xiao shines with strength, courage, and devotion. Their bond is based on equality, trust, and mutual support — and that is precisely what makes it so beautiful.

The emperors of the two kingdoms and the second prince are mirror reflections of this integrity: prisoners of their political ambitions and thirst for recognition, they evoke reflection rather than sympathy.

The production is strikingly pictorial: the colors, the symbols, the visual parallels between scenes...
And Chen Zheyuan — what an actor! He transitions naturally from a charming military prince to a ruthless general, demonstrating remarkable charisma and inner strength. The scenes between father and son are among the most powerful and moving. He represents the ideal image of a Chinese drama prince.

Fu Yi Xiao is brave, convincing, and deeply human — a rare type of female general, realistic and believable (still an uncommon portrayal in the Chinese industry).
The supporting roles are no less impressive — which is also a rarity! The princess (Feng Xi Yang ) , initially criticized by viewers, gradually unfolds, gaining depth and evoking genuine empathy. Her duet with the emperor is simply mesmerizing. The emperor Xia Jing Yan) himself delivers one of the best performances in the series, a character who reveals new dimensions with each episode.

Only the second prince( Xia Jing Shi) left a sense of incompleteness: his story remains vague, and his acting lacks emotional depth.

The music, built on vivid leitmotifs, perfectly accompanies the scenes of cruelty and tension — appearing and disappearing sharply, just like the directing style itself.
The battles are theatrical, rhythmic, and choreographed to instrumental compositions.
From the very first minutes, one feels that the series speaks of an inner struggle — the struggle within the human heart, where kindness can at any moment turn into cruelty.

The sumptuous costumes and the symbolism in the staging of emotional scenes also deserve special mention.

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Fated Hearts out here stealing Hearts?

If you love c-drama that has it all this drama is for you. Right from episode 1 i was so hooked that i watch it through to episode 12. I can't remember when was the last time i got gagged this hard by a drama but here we are LOL. The storyline, acting, and the drama is just top tier that will make you eager to watch the next episode. Hope all the wondering souls on here sneaking on the review section thinking of giving this drama a chance i encourage you to do so. Hope this helps now i'm grabbing my popcorn i have a lot of catch up to do into episode 13 i go.. bhyeeeeee

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I guarantee you've never seen anything like this

I actually went into this not expecting much of it. I've only been watching CDramas for about a year and one of the first ones I watched was Handsome Siblings. I really enjoyed Chen Zheyuan's screen presence and thought he was delightful as Xiaoyu'er and started adding a bunch of his other projects to my watchlist (so far the only other one I've seen is The Princess and the Werewolf which I also adored, but I will be binging his other work asap). When I first saw the trailer for Fated Hearts, I remember saying to myself, "I don't think I'll be into the romance, but I'm intrigued by the plot and I really want to see what Chen Zheyuan does with this role." And boy am I glad I decided to give this a shot when I'd been feeling hesitant!

So let's talk about this show on the technical level for a second. Every single detail is meticulously planned to a degree I've never experienced. The visuals are breathtaking. The production value is insanely high and I swear I've never seen it at this level for a television show. This is some of the best acting I've ever seen (need to especially shout out Chen Zheyuan, Li Qin, and Zuo Ye — the three of them need to be showered in awards for their performances), and I've consumed thousands upon thousands of hours of film and tv in my 30 years. The pacing is immaculate, the characterization is consistent, there's not a single plot point that is dropped and abandoned. The dialogue is so intentional and lines are never wasted. The way so many characters parallel each other (especially Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao), the way Feng Suige and the main antagonist are such perfect foils to each other, the way every major character has some grudge that they want to avenge and we get to see every plan come to fruition and it is so goddamn satisfying every time — even if it's a character we're rooting against (I'm thinking specifically about the Empress Dowager when she does The Thing™️ in 1.27). This show understands payoff on a bone deep level, it understands how to genuinely truly earn relationship progression — I have NEVER witnessed a show consistently hit the bullseye when it came to payoff on everything it set up every single time without fail.

The show also has biting commentary that left me shocked that the censors allowed this to be released. Calling abusers what they are and killing them off one by one — including parents, when filial piety is so important in Asian countries? Exquisite. One of the plots that it seems many people hated (from a quick look at the comments anyway) was Feng Xiyang's obsession with Xia Jingshi and while I agree that there were times when Xiyang was aggravating, to me that entire storyline could not be a more blatant deconstruction of the whole "dark romance" trope. Literally go watch any dark romance film/show and tell me how Xiyang's behavior differs from that protagonist. But because Fated Hearts is interrogating that genre, Xia Jingshi remains unmoved by her sacrifices and loyalty to him. The entire point of Xiyang desperately and repeatedly trying to win Xia Jingshi's affections through her love for him is to interrogate these misogynistic ideas that have been pushed down our throats about women enduring mistreatment in the hopes that the man will one day change. And the show point blank tells us that he won't! It's a primal scream pleading women to walk away from relationships where they aren't valued. There's also one character who's a sex worker who works with one of the villains and remains loyal to him when knowing he's up to something nefarious and he tries to have her killed but she gets to survive and start over!!!!! What other show has done that???? And the interrogations of misogyny don't stop there — the Susha Emperor believes women are meant to serve and be submissive, he had even been in love with a woman who commanded troops and he never once viewed her as his equal; the Jinxiu Emperor is a hedonist who will have his guards kill anyone over the slightest inconvenience (and while it can't be explicitly said bc censorship, he's undoubtedly a rapist) and the comeuppance these two characters face is just so *chefs kiss*. There's just so much to be said about the brilliant examination of misogyny but I fear anything else I say will veer into massive spoilers so I'll leave it there.

And let's get into the enemies to lovers of it all! I'm a known hater of this trope and I can't count the number of times I've had people start arguments with me online bc I pointed out that a dark romance pairing is abusive and they were determined to defend it. That was my main hesitance going into this show. When I watched episode 2 and Feng Suige had his men torture Fu Yixiao and he punched her and kicked her across the room I was thinking, "Yeah, about what I feared. Still going to watch bc Chen Zheyuan is fantastic in this, but how the hell are they supposed to come back from this?" But the writers DO come back from this because of a few things: 1) this torture scene is actually genuinely very important for character establishment for both Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao — Fu Yixiao is an enemy combatant who nearly killed him and he wants vengeance for himself and the troops that Jinxiu killed so he demonstrates how ruthless and brutal and lethal he is and honestly his safest course of action WOULD be to kill her, we see that while Fu Yixiao doesn't match Feng Suige in brute strength that she does a very good job of holding her own against him and that she will fight until her last breath and will use any means she can to get the advantage; 2) in the very next episode we see a completely different side of Feng Suige — a caring and protective older brother, a dutiful prince (even if he hates having to play that part), a brilliant strategist when it comes to court politics, a kind man who truly values the people who work for him; 3) once Feng Suige realizes Fu Yixiao does indeed have amnesia and decides to offer her the chance to work together to flush out the Susha spy, he behaves completely differently now that he no longer views her as an enemy combatant and, as she is staying in his residence and bc of who Feng Suige is at his core, he now fiercely protects her leading to the scene that turned it all around for me — episode 5 when Fu Yixiao is tricked by former allies from Jinxiu and Feng Suige comes to her rescue before risking his life and nearly dying to save someone close to her. Like…. what do you mean Fu Yixiao nearly killed him a couple months ago and now he's almost dying to save someone she cares about???? And the show just made me grow increasingly deranged about them as the story progressed, as they each become the person that the other trusts the most. This is the best that enemies to lovers has ever been done and it will probably never be done this well again.

Is the show "perfect"? No. Was I utterly enthralled for every single second of it's runtime? No. Did it on rare occasions veer a little too much into melodrama for my tastes? Yes. There were definitely times when I started to falter and get worried, but then I'd get to the next episode or even two episodes later and I'd be like "Ah, I just needed to be patient and trust the writers." While there are definitely some small (INCREDIBLY SMALL) flaws, this is truly a masterclass in every possible way a visual story can be and no other show I've watched even comes close to this.

Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to start a rewatch 😊

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Fated Revenge: Angst, Betrayal & Romance

The core of the drama is revenge. The drama is about the war between two nations, and the many characters' fate intertwined with it. The male lead, a Prince, finds the female lead, an archer from the enemy’s nation, who is suffering from amnesia. Although sword enemies, they begin to work together, each for their own personal gain. The first half of the drama follows their journey in the ruthless palace, a mix of revenge, betrayal and romance. The second half of the drama continues this story but also introduces the second nation, where the focus is a mix of survival, revenge and complex love triangle with characters we are already familiar with.

For me, the synopsis and trailer made it seem like the drama is the typical cliche story of enemies to lovers, amnesia trope and palace politics. However, the script excelled in overriding all the cliches with engaging narratives by focusing on a range of multi-dimensional characters. The fresh execution of the familiar tropes and unpredictable plot twists, made this drama hella angsty and addictive to watch.

MAIN LEADS:
- The male lead is the perfect blend of red flag savage killer with his enemies, and a softie with his lover. Maybe it's an unpopular opinion but I love how he beat up the female lead in the early episodes. This is what I expect from a character named as the Killer God, no matter man or woman, an enemy is an enemy. As a huge Chen Zhe Yuan fan, I absolutely loved him, and I’m beyond happy it was him of all people that took this role. Well deserved!
- The female lead is strong, smart and capable. Even though she starts as amnestic, her personality and strong will stays the same. When she regains her strength, she is a freaking badass. Many of the so-called female generals had disappointed me in the past, but Li Qin succeeded in successfully representing a badass, powerful and yet empathic general. It’s my first time watching Li Qin, and it’s safe to say she made this role unforgettable! I’m so impressed, she did a terrific job!

POSITIVE:
- 100% angst. There is not a single episode where I wasn’t stressed, crying or at the edge of my seat watching.
- Real enemies to lovers. It’s rare to find a couple totally savage with each other and I loved every minute of it.
- Great chemistry. I admit I was hesitant at first about this pairing but their on-screen presence was fantastic. The leads fit together like a glove.
- Morally grey characters. Almost everyone in this drama was back-stabbing, betraying or in general ruthless towards their enemies and even their own family.
- Badass duo + perfectly written romance. Savage male lead + vigilant female lead. I equally loved them as enemies, as partners and as lovers. Their weirdly bdsm kinks were highly entertaining to watch. But more than that I loved how later, they always supported one another and had each other's backs. No stupid misunderstandings or break ups. The highlight of their relationship is the fact that the writers didn’t change or weaken one of them to make the other appear stronger. Both were strong willed individuals and together, the ultimate power couple.
- Ruthless palace politics. Everyone was an enemy, everyone was in danger. The enemies never backed down or were inferior to the heroes.
- Plot twist. There were so many unexpected storylines, and jaw dropping moments that I loved.
- No fillers. Every scene, plot, character and concept served its purpose, nothing was without reason and just thrown in there to fill up a writing quota.
- Amnesia trope. It’s very rare to see this trope executed so perfectly!
- Secondary characters. I loved all of them. From the Unhinged Young Emperor, the Spoiled Princess, Heartless Second Prince, Older Emperor, to the Subordinates, Villain Ministers and Empresses. Even if I hated what some characters were doing, I loved watching all of them.
- Family angst. I loved the toxic relationship between the second nation's brothers. More than that, I surprisingly enjoyed seeing the many father-son storylines, especially the angst between the male lead and his father.
- Fated Hearts - the drama truly showed me why it’s titled this way!
- Great cinematography, especially during the murder scenes.

NEGATIVE:
- Final battle. Honestly, the only thing that felt underwhelming was the final scene between the leads and the last villain. Perhaps because the characters had spent many, many episodes apart, their connection was weak and the pay off simply wasn’t there anymore. The revenge didn’t feel as satisfying compared to all the other beautifully crafted scenes. I also wanted the female lead to have the final kill, and that didn’t happen. Still, it was a satisfying conclusion to the story.
- Weak motives. Some of the characters had great motives for wanting revenge but others, not so much. In particular the masked man’s motive felt weak. But still, I don’t fault this too much because when I think about how some people in real life can get petty for the smallest thing… sometimes the smallest thing is enough.
- Storm Alliance. The weakest plot line in the drama but I still think it served a purpose and wasn’t too long.

OVERALL:
This drama is a perfect mix of mega angst, satisfying revenge, unexpected betrayals, savage murders, intricate politics and fated romance. Yes, just like any drama, there are some flaws. But for me, the emotional experience and attachment to the drama is the most important thing, and here I found myself going through non-stop emotions while watching - smiling, laughing, jaw dropping, stressing, cheering and crying. I loved all the characters, the story, the pacing, the ending. This drama has easily become one of my top 2025 favourites. I cannot recommend it enough!

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
"To me, she is not just any woman. She is the woman I'm willing to stay with for life, never leaving nor forsaking." - Feng Suige (male lead)
"As long as I'm alive, I won't let anyone hurt you. Even if I become a wreck, even if I'm down to my last breath, I'll never break that promise." - Fu Yixiao (female lead)

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THIS CRAZYYY

A series could only be this good. From the plot to the actors, how can everything be perfect?
The plot in the series, everyone had a story. The fight scenes were absolutely riveting. Most people didn't expect such good chemistry from Li Qin and Chen Zheyuan. They gave a great response. Chen Zheyuan's facial expressions were very good.I loved every episode from beginning to end. The scenes I enjoyed the most were the death of Murong Yao and Jingshi, the trauma episode burial of Feng Suige.
THE BEST SERIES I'VE WATCHED IN 2025. THEY ARE NOW ON THE SAME LEVEL WITH MM. It ended quickly, but it was worth the wait.

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Are we watching the same show?

I feel like I'm watching a different show from the rest of the reviewers.
Let me start by saying the story, production, costumes and music are all fantastic.
However, there are two bad actors I can't see past. One is the female lead and the second is the male support role (Chen He Yi).
It really feels like the male lead is carrying the whole show. He's the main character you get any emotion and chemistry from.
I understand that the FL plays a hardened general but that doesn't mean she needs to be stoic 99% of the time. She has like 2 expressions, and doesn’t give off chemistry or sparks. This is not acting.
I have to say the same about CHY, the male support. This happens to be the third drama I've seen him in (Perfect Match and The Princess Royal are the other two) and he always disappoints. Little expression, and many times even seems to just deliver the wrong facial reaction in a given situation.
It's really a shame because the story is good but it needed a few cast replacements in my opinion.

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