Editorials 
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A Splendid Match — An Underrated Gem
This drama has everything going for it: one heart-rending scene after another, intriguing subplots woven together seamlessly, and pacing so spot-on that there is barely a moment to catch your breath, let alone feel bored! 'A Splendid Match' begins with two very familiar ingredients of Chinese period dramas: a daughter sent away as a baby to be raised by her maternal grandmother, and the age-old business of match-making, where marriage is often less about love than family interests, status and advantageous connections.
I initially wondered whether I was heading down another well-trodden path. Would I be watching another 'Perfect Match' which I enjoyed tremendously but not quite motivated to watch another drama of similar trope. Fortunately, the drama soon takes these familiar tropes in an intriguing direction of its own.
In my opinion, this drama is seriously underrated on kisskh. A rating of 8.2 is low for this drama. I would have expected a rating somewhere around 8.5–8.8. I gave it 9.5 — although regular readers of my reviews will know that I am usually more generous than the ratings on this website. 😄
###More Than Another Arranged-Marriage Drama
Gu Jin Zhao was sent away as a newborn and raised by her maternal grandmother because her father believed a fortune-teller's prediction that her birth would damage his career. When she finally returns home, she has little intention of making life easy for the father who rejected her.
As she comes of age, another problem looms: marriage.
Arranged marriages and marriages for political or family advantage are hardly new territory in Chinese period dramas. Here, however, the romance is woven effectively into family conflict, court politics, revenge, warfare and personal ambition.
And Jin Zhao is certainly not short of choices. Her suitors include the eccentric Marquis heir Ye Xian, the formidable young cabinet minister Chen Yan Yun, and the promising imperial scholar Chen Xuan Qing.
But Jin Zhao has good reason to distrust marriage. Having witnessed the destructive relationship between her parents — and later suffering disappointment in her first love — she decides that remaining single might be the safest option.
The question is therefore not simply whom will she choose? It is whether anyone can persuade her that love and marriage are worth the risk.
### Romance Amidst Political Chaos
What makes *A Splendid Match* interesting is that romance never exists in isolation.
There is revenge, jealousy, family hatred, political scheming, court power struggles and eventually war. Lovers become rivals; allies become enemies; supposedly honourable people reveal rather less honourable faces.
And when a national crisis arrives, personal grudges suddenly have to compete with something much bigger.
The two unsuccessful men in love are particularly interesting. One reacts dramatically to rejection yet can still put his feelings aside and cooperate with his rival when circumstances demand it. Naturally, my heart aches for him.
The other maintains a calm, dignified façade while joining forces with his rival’s enemy to bring him down. So much for nobility! His transformation from a heartbroken lover into a devil in disguise is quite the character twist.
### Ci Sha — The Revelation of the Drama
For me, the standout is Ci Sha as Chen Yan Yun.
I had seen Ci Sha in supporting roles before without paying him much attention. Here, as the male lead, he completely captivated me.
He carries himself with charisma, authority and dignity, yet can switch effortlessly between powerful cabinet minister, tender lover, furious uncle, grieving comrade and man quietly suffering from heartbreak of a discovery.
His expressions are particularly good. He does not need exaggerated gestures to communicate what the character is feeling. And yes, it certainly does not hurt that he looks extremely handsome doing it. 😄 His confession of love is particularly memorable - honest, direct, confident and very amusing.
By the end of this drama, Ci Sha had firmly earned himself a place on my favourite-actors list.
### Ren Min — Much Improved
Ren Min, playing the rebellious Gu Jin Zhao, also surprised me.
I had watched a couple of her previous dramas and was never particularly impressed, but her acting here feels considerably more mature and assured. Jin Zhao can be stubborn, mischievous, vulnerable and fiercely independent, and Ren Min handles those shifts convincingly.
She also looks particularly good in this production. Whatever the reason — styling, make-up, camera work, simply maturity or a nose-job — the camera is much kinder to her here than in some of her earlier dramas.
### Winwin — Arrogant, Awkward and Very Entertaining
Winwin (Dong Si Cheng) is another highlight as the eccentric Ye Xian.
I remembered him as the playful and provocative Yang Xian in Perfect Match. Here he gives us a wonderfully awkward combination: an arrogant young aristocrat who has absolutely no idea how to express his feelings properly, yet can transform into a dignified and courageous general when duty calls.
His defiance towards his superiors is especially entertaining to watch — although I certainly would not recommend it as a career strategy in imperial China. 😄
### When the Battle Scenes Actually Hurt
The battle sequences deserve special mention. They are well choreographed, dramatic and, more importantly, emotionally effective.
One heroic death in particular genuinely moved me.
I am a hardened drama viewer. After years of watching writers deploy every tear-jerking trick imaginable, I normally sit through tragic deaths remarkably dry-eyed.
This one extracted a tear. That deserves credit.
### Another Heart-rending Scene
The wedding procession crossing paths with the funeral procession was absolutely heartbreaking. The grieving son’s sorrowful gaze into the sedan chair carrying away the woman he loves was enough to break anyone’s heart. The beautifully chosen sad music only twisted the knife further!
### Characters You Will Love to Hate
The drama also provides several characters who are wonderfully infuriating.
There is a truly horrible husband who never seems to consider the possibility that he might be mistaken, and finally drives his wife to suicide. Here is the hypocrite who presents himself as a gentleman while behaving like a complete scumbag. On top of this, he is an awful father who shirks all responsibility for his daughter, yet is perfectly willing to use her marriage to advance his political career. Honestly, I wanted to punch him. He succeeded magnificently in making me angry, so credit to the actor.
And there is the truly wicked nanny, who expertly manipulates the feather-headed concubine into doing her bidding — all under the guise of acting for her daughter’s good.
Then there is the brainless cousin, a walking catalogue of every nasty trait imaginable: jealous, narcissistic, self-important, arrogant, spiteful, bullying, and a malicious gossip to boot.
The drama repeatedly explores the double faces people present to society — respectable on the outside, calculating underneath. Perhaps that is not particularly ancient Chinese after all. Every era has its share.
### The Grand Secretary — Power and Character
The obsessive Grand Secretary, whose ambitions lie behind much of the turmoil, provides one of the drama's more interesting lessons.
Ability alone is not enough when selecting people for positions of enormous power. Intelligence and competence matter, but so do integrity, character and values.
The drama also illustrates another danger: people may begin their careers with admirable intentions, only to lose sight of them once ambition and power take over.
That is hardly a lesson confined to imperial China.
### Marriage, Divorce and Family Honour
Another interesting aspect is the enormous importance placed on marriage, divorce and family reputation.
Chinese and English cultures may historically have been worlds apart, yet old English novels show something remarkably similar. Think of 'Pride and Prejudice': one person's romantic scandal can threaten the reputation and marriage prospects of an entire family.
Unfortunately, women usually paid the heavier price in both cultures.
### My Nitpicks
No drama escapes completely. 😄
My biggest distraction was the young emperor. The actor is excellent and remarkably eloquent, but after a three-year time jump he still appears to be exactly the same little boy. His Majesty is said to be growing up but does look the part.
A dead person should look pale, grey, and suitably ghastly! The make-up artist should be aiming for a corpse, not a beauty pageant contestant.
I was also disappointed that the Marquis heir did not receive the recognition I thought he deserved. After what he contributed, I would have liked at least some acknowledgement — a promotion to Marquis would have been fitting - this could be done so dramatically if the screenwriter knows how.
And anyone trying to identify the historical dynasty can save themselves the trouble.
The setting and Dayan are clearly fictional. The technology — including telescopes and firearms — gives it something of a Ming flavour, while the imperial family's surname 'Li' immediately evokes the Tang dynasty. Best not to consult the history books too closely.
### Final Verdict
*A Splendid Match* surprised me.
What begins like another familiar arranged-marriage period romance develops into something much richer: romance, family dysfunction, political intrigue, jealousy, revenge, friendship, warfare and questions about loyalty, character and the corrupting influence of power.
The cast is strong, the political storyline gives the romance substance, the battle sequences carry genuine emotional weight, and Ci Sha's performance alone made the drama memorable for me.
It has flaws, but I enjoyed it far more than its current kisskh rating led me to expect.
Overall: all thumbs up from me. 😄
I initially wondered whether I was heading down another well-trodden path. Would I be watching another 'Perfect Match' which I enjoyed tremendously but not quite motivated to watch another drama of similar trope. Fortunately, the drama soon takes these familiar tropes in an intriguing direction of its own.
In my opinion, this drama is seriously underrated on kisskh. A rating of 8.2 is low for this drama. I would have expected a rating somewhere around 8.5–8.8. I gave it 9.5 — although regular readers of my reviews will know that I am usually more generous than the ratings on this website. 😄
###More Than Another Arranged-Marriage Drama
Gu Jin Zhao was sent away as a newborn and raised by her maternal grandmother because her father believed a fortune-teller's prediction that her birth would damage his career. When she finally returns home, she has little intention of making life easy for the father who rejected her.
As she comes of age, another problem looms: marriage.
Arranged marriages and marriages for political or family advantage are hardly new territory in Chinese period dramas. Here, however, the romance is woven effectively into family conflict, court politics, revenge, warfare and personal ambition.
And Jin Zhao is certainly not short of choices. Her suitors include the eccentric Marquis heir Ye Xian, the formidable young cabinet minister Chen Yan Yun, and the promising imperial scholar Chen Xuan Qing.
But Jin Zhao has good reason to distrust marriage. Having witnessed the destructive relationship between her parents — and later suffering disappointment in her first love — she decides that remaining single might be the safest option.
The question is therefore not simply whom will she choose? It is whether anyone can persuade her that love and marriage are worth the risk.
### Romance Amidst Political Chaos
What makes *A Splendid Match* interesting is that romance never exists in isolation.
There is revenge, jealousy, family hatred, political scheming, court power struggles and eventually war. Lovers become rivals; allies become enemies; supposedly honourable people reveal rather less honourable faces.
And when a national crisis arrives, personal grudges suddenly have to compete with something much bigger.
The two unsuccessful men in love are particularly interesting. One reacts dramatically to rejection yet can still put his feelings aside and cooperate with his rival when circumstances demand it. Naturally, my heart aches for him.
The other maintains a calm, dignified façade while joining forces with his rival’s enemy to bring him down. So much for nobility! His transformation from a heartbroken lover into a devil in disguise is quite the character twist.
### Ci Sha — The Revelation of the Drama
For me, the standout is Ci Sha as Chen Yan Yun.
I had seen Ci Sha in supporting roles before without paying him much attention. Here, as the male lead, he completely captivated me.
He carries himself with charisma, authority and dignity, yet can switch effortlessly between powerful cabinet minister, tender lover, furious uncle, grieving comrade and man quietly suffering from heartbreak of a discovery.
His expressions are particularly good. He does not need exaggerated gestures to communicate what the character is feeling. And yes, it certainly does not hurt that he looks extremely handsome doing it. 😄 His confession of love is particularly memorable - honest, direct, confident and very amusing.
By the end of this drama, Ci Sha had firmly earned himself a place on my favourite-actors list.
### Ren Min — Much Improved
Ren Min, playing the rebellious Gu Jin Zhao, also surprised me.
I had watched a couple of her previous dramas and was never particularly impressed, but her acting here feels considerably more mature and assured. Jin Zhao can be stubborn, mischievous, vulnerable and fiercely independent, and Ren Min handles those shifts convincingly.
She also looks particularly good in this production. Whatever the reason — styling, make-up, camera work, simply maturity or a nose-job — the camera is much kinder to her here than in some of her earlier dramas.
### Winwin — Arrogant, Awkward and Very Entertaining
Winwin (Dong Si Cheng) is another highlight as the eccentric Ye Xian.
I remembered him as the playful and provocative Yang Xian in Perfect Match. Here he gives us a wonderfully awkward combination: an arrogant young aristocrat who has absolutely no idea how to express his feelings properly, yet can transform into a dignified and courageous general when duty calls.
His defiance towards his superiors is especially entertaining to watch — although I certainly would not recommend it as a career strategy in imperial China. 😄
### When the Battle Scenes Actually Hurt
The battle sequences deserve special mention. They are well choreographed, dramatic and, more importantly, emotionally effective.
One heroic death in particular genuinely moved me.
I am a hardened drama viewer. After years of watching writers deploy every tear-jerking trick imaginable, I normally sit through tragic deaths remarkably dry-eyed.
This one extracted a tear. That deserves credit.
### Another Heart-rending Scene
The wedding procession crossing paths with the funeral procession was absolutely heartbreaking. The grieving son’s sorrowful gaze into the sedan chair carrying away the woman he loves was enough to break anyone’s heart. The beautifully chosen sad music only twisted the knife further!
### Characters You Will Love to Hate
The drama also provides several characters who are wonderfully infuriating.
There is a truly horrible husband who never seems to consider the possibility that he might be mistaken, and finally drives his wife to suicide. Here is the hypocrite who presents himself as a gentleman while behaving like a complete scumbag. On top of this, he is an awful father who shirks all responsibility for his daughter, yet is perfectly willing to use her marriage to advance his political career. Honestly, I wanted to punch him. He succeeded magnificently in making me angry, so credit to the actor.
And there is the truly wicked nanny, who expertly manipulates the feather-headed concubine into doing her bidding — all under the guise of acting for her daughter’s good.
Then there is the brainless cousin, a walking catalogue of every nasty trait imaginable: jealous, narcissistic, self-important, arrogant, spiteful, bullying, and a malicious gossip to boot.
The drama repeatedly explores the double faces people present to society — respectable on the outside, calculating underneath. Perhaps that is not particularly ancient Chinese after all. Every era has its share.
### The Grand Secretary — Power and Character
The obsessive Grand Secretary, whose ambitions lie behind much of the turmoil, provides one of the drama's more interesting lessons.
Ability alone is not enough when selecting people for positions of enormous power. Intelligence and competence matter, but so do integrity, character and values.
The drama also illustrates another danger: people may begin their careers with admirable intentions, only to lose sight of them once ambition and power take over.
That is hardly a lesson confined to imperial China.
### Marriage, Divorce and Family Honour
Another interesting aspect is the enormous importance placed on marriage, divorce and family reputation.
Chinese and English cultures may historically have been worlds apart, yet old English novels show something remarkably similar. Think of 'Pride and Prejudice': one person's romantic scandal can threaten the reputation and marriage prospects of an entire family.
Unfortunately, women usually paid the heavier price in both cultures.
### My Nitpicks
No drama escapes completely. 😄
My biggest distraction was the young emperor. The actor is excellent and remarkably eloquent, but after a three-year time jump he still appears to be exactly the same little boy. His Majesty is said to be growing up but does look the part.
A dead person should look pale, grey, and suitably ghastly! The make-up artist should be aiming for a corpse, not a beauty pageant contestant.
I was also disappointed that the Marquis heir did not receive the recognition I thought he deserved. After what he contributed, I would have liked at least some acknowledgement — a promotion to Marquis would have been fitting - this could be done so dramatically if the screenwriter knows how.
And anyone trying to identify the historical dynasty can save themselves the trouble.
The setting and Dayan are clearly fictional. The technology — including telescopes and firearms — gives it something of a Ming flavour, while the imperial family's surname 'Li' immediately evokes the Tang dynasty. Best not to consult the history books too closely.
### Final Verdict
*A Splendid Match* surprised me.
What begins like another familiar arranged-marriage period romance develops into something much richer: romance, family dysfunction, political intrigue, jealousy, revenge, friendship, warfare and questions about loyalty, character and the corrupting influence of power.
The cast is strong, the political storyline gives the romance substance, the battle sequences carry genuine emotional weight, and Ci Sha's performance alone made the drama memorable for me.
It has flaws, but I enjoyed it far more than its current kisskh rating led me to expect.
Overall: all thumbs up from me. 😄
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