Suliabryon

A fantastic enemies to lovers spectacle and experience

Some spoilers within, although I'm trying not to just say outright huge plot points. I don't normally write reviews for c-dramas. Look, this year has spoiled us. The Prisoner of Beauty is my number one historical of the year. The First Frost my number one modern, and When Destiny Brings the Demon my number one fantasy, just to give you an idea of where I'm at. I wouldn't say Fated Hearts unseats Prisoner of Beauty because that drama is pretty much perfection in my eyes....but Fated Hearts belongs in almost its own category. If I could give this show an 11/10, I would. When I see "enemies to lovers" I want REAL enemies to lovers, and this show has that. But what elevates it seriously above SO many other dramas are these things: 1. the acting, 2. the visuals, ie costumes/sets/cinematography, 3. avoiding some tired cliches 4. an unexpectedly fantastic B storyline with the second leads

First of all, THE ACTING. This was my first drama with Li Qin and she was AMAZING. We've had three recent dramas with "female generals" and as much as I enjoyed Shadow Love for what it was, Fu Yixiao absolutely blows the other two female generals out of the water. I BELIEVED FYX was a bad*** as general. And Chen Zheyuan as Feng Suige??? OMG. I need him in like so many more historical dramas now. The two of them together? I was sold on this couple in episode 1-3 when they still hated each other but the hate banter - which you believe they mean! - somehow manages to feel like they are one short step away from having hate s**. Okay, but the romance isn't even the best part of the acting in this! The scenes with the ML and his sister? Fantastic. SO many other scenes that have to do with the plot and the betrayals and everything are just so. FREAKING. Fantastic.

And let's talk about the second lead couple....triangle? Whatever we're calling it. MY GOD. I'll be honest. I really didn't like the princess for a long time. And kudos to the actress for that because the princess isn't likable. She spoiled, sheltered, naive, and entitled. But once she gets to the enemy country? Once that starts unfolding and the amazing, AMAZING Qin Tianyu comes in as Emperor Xia Jingyan? All I'm saying is, QTY threw everything into that role like he was playing the ML and it was FANTASTIC. He's not a good character. He's not. He's done terrible things. He's a sociopath. But holy heck, did QTY ever bring his A-game and give that character so much depth and nuance. The confrontation at the end of ep 35 with his mother?? Just amazing writing and acting. Wow. And let me tell you, these second lead characters made me cry. Like, a lot. I cried several times in this drama, from just tearing up for our leads in emotionally weighty and heartbreaking moments, to actual real crying where I needed a kleenex. I don't know how else to say it, but the acting and directing in this drama paired with the music was just on another level.

And then let's talk about the visuals. Every single frame is so beautiful. The COSTUMES. The rich colors. The tea set the main couple uses! Every single thing is just an amazing attention to detail and so stunning. And yes, the actors look amazing, too. I'm just saying, the visuals combined with the acting, stellar writing, and music? This drama is 100% an experience. To me, this is an S+, top tier production. I know the same director did Moonlight Mystique, and I enjoyed that drama and it was also stunningly beautiful with equally beautiful music - I sought out and bought the entire OST for that one. I'll b watching for dramas from this director in the future.

As for avoiding tired cliches....this one DOES have a SML who is so in love with the FL he can't move on, and NORMALLY this is my LEAST favorite of all SML storylines. I'm so over it. BUT. This drama did it really well. Because his motivations ARE NOT all about the FL. Arguably, this story happens in part because his driving goal means he will sacrifice anyone and anything to get it, and that includes the people closest to him. It makes him a much better character than the SML's who "become evil" because they "love" the FL. This guy was already there. And the ML's siblings! For once, neither of them hate him, and they all love and trust one another! How REFRESHING for a c-drama!

So yeah, that's my review. This show was absolutely an amazing watch. I loved it. Cannot recommend it enough. But if you ask me to rec you only ONE enemies to lovers this year, it's still going to be Prisoner of Beauty, because that show was just absolutely the perfect enemies to lovers from beginning to end and is my benchmark now. So don't just watch one - watch two. That one and this one.

Read More