DefyingDestiny

The 3 dramas I've watched this year have left me refreshed and feeling fluffy: Blossom
Flourished Peony
Perfect Match
I can boldly recommend all 3

Overall Drama Rating: 9.0/10

My honest overall ranking (based on my personal rewatch value)
4th CP
1st CP
6th CP
3rd CP
2nd CP
5th CP

Storyline Ranking
4th CP- Most complete story; dual character growth; complete side stories and total story progression and resolution, and best overall couple partnership.
2nd CP- Good introductory setting for all the other characters; clear and direct plot and story resolution. Good dual character growth.
3rd CP- Slightly repetitive storyline; only FL character growth; great chemistry and passionate lovestory with good angst.
1st CP- Repetitive meandering and somewhat exhausteing storyline; 2nd lead syndrome; rushed character growth resolution; great angst; absolutely sweet lovestory underneath.
5th CP- Best CP build up; great story arc for ML lead; rushed character, side story and CP resolution; only ML character growth. Solid total drama climax notwithstanding.
6th CP- Subtle, perfectly arced but too little screen time.

My chemistry ranking
4th CP (Absolutely perfect on every metric)
1st CP (Jiejie vote)
6th CP (Sweetness vote)
3rd CP (Should be 3rd but I rate sweet over steam)
2nd CP (FLH 💯 thought his wife's hotness was worth the violence)
5th CP (Should have been number 1 but no payoff for their BDMS/bad boy romance vibes)

For a couple that was forshadowed from the 1st arc, and had such a solid introduction troupe: "contract marriage"; it should have been EPIC.
They refused to allow Leshan character growth: she never self- examined or admitted her feelings or openly fought for him. And it took away from the story for me.

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Ans Yes

💃💃💃💃 8.3

I honestly feel letdown by 5th CP's story. It was more slapstick than rom com. Zero character growth for Leshan and after forcing a hero's journey on Yang Xian, they never gave him the dignity and respect he had earned at the end of his redemption arc, as well as no actual "couple bonding" scene (the Lion Dance was the closest we got).
They had so much potential 😔

The distinction only matters in households with wives and concubines. I think most of the Li children call Madam Li Niang, so it's apt he calls her that as well.

My theory (or fan fiction) on how General She transitions into the Li heir-
Leshan in a fit of rage attempts to break an imperial gift. General She in a show of support for his sister assist in breaking what he assumes was a love token between two young lovers. General She, rumoured incoming Li son-in-law (who already have a bevy of enemies), just killed off Minister Cui's career (and possibly life and clan extinction) gets impeached by disgruntled officials for disregard for the Emperor for destroying an imperial gift.
As punishment he abdicates as She heir and becomes a live-in adopted Li son!

Niang is often used to address concubine mothers while the main madam mother is called Muchin. So Niang can be the mother but not officially or formally recognised. While a Muchin is the official mother, regardless of if there is biological relationship or respect.

Yep should definitely rank other matches that happened along the way. 4th sister arranged about 3 marriages: and one did involve murder🤭. If they patch that one up I might still prefer it to the 2nd CP😆.
The worst CP overall for me was probably the Emperor and Concubine Yang. Toxic royal matches never fail to give the ick.

Talking about the son's cuteness, Madam Li doesn't only birth gorgeous daughters but she makes dashing sons too. Also their trademark violent and schemin nature definitely served him well in the military 😆

I was already obssessed when he played a villain. Shen Yu Rong was a work of art. I'm happy to see him pull of a love interest equally well. Shen Huizhao is heart meltingly cute.
I felt like Shen Huizhao was the man Fang Fei and Princess Wanning thought they were involved with 😆😆🤭

I had to readjust my mindset by reminding myself that their take on beatings during that era is different from mine.

So after everything Chai An still maintained his sit as the head of the Son-in-laws Alliance. He was dressed so majestically when he was offering financial aid to their "welfare" member😄🤭. SHZ said he doesn't have much say because he is the 4th SIL but Chai An, who gets to run DYX and FLH's marriage is the defacto leader 😆😆😆

Good watch 👍
I'm already rewatching😆

They should make a director's cut or something and adjust about 4 scenes of the 5th sister's lovestory. More character development, less violence and it would have been perfect.
The story made me feel like the people complaining about age gap were right; if the regulations about age gap was what forced the lack of intimacy, then better to hire an actress that can do what the role requires.
IF truly the story and role were adjusted to be more "slapstick" since skinship was out of the question then it hurt the story. But then again this might have always been the story and they felt a young actress could readily fit in with it

If the had spent some of the time being violent against Yang Xian, to show him admit or explain why he had to steal the bride and why he will never be remorseful about and allow her to come to terms and even appreciate his crazy action, that would have been a better plot for the CP.
1st, 2nd and 3rd CP, all had the ML do questionable things which broke the FL's faith but they got to have a proper reconciliation plot; why couldn't they give the 5th CP the same. How do you do an Enemies to Lovers story without a proper repentance/confessions scene.
I really liked them so I'm upset they didn't get better treatment from the writers 😔