An unexpected treasure
I love when I stumble upon a hidden gem completely by accident.I had mentally shelved this drama for a while-mildly intrigued by the premise, assuming it would be a lighthearted watch, but it wasn’t something I was eagerly anticipating this year. I actually started Moonlight Mystique first, but it just didn’t click for me, so I dropped it. Then I picked this up, thinking it would be a calm costume rom-com, and it did start out that way… before becoming so much more.
Before Destined, I wasn’t very familiar with Song Yi’s work, but she absolutely won me over as Yan Nan Xing in Follow Your Heart alongside Luo Yun Xi as Jiang Xin Bai. I’d previously tried First Frost with Bai Jingting but dropped it because I couldn’t connect with the FL. On the other hand, I adored New Life Begins, he played such a charming character as the 6th Prince Yin Zheng, and Tian Xi Wei was adorable as Li Wei. So, I went into this with modest expectations based on those mixed experiences.
But after finishing Destined, this couple completely stole my heart.
The ML begins as somewhat immature, unwilling to shoulder responsibility and dreaming only of wandering the world with his sword. The FL, meanwhile, practically takes it upon herself to help her (not-so-willing) husband grow into a responsible, educated future official. Their dynamic is warm, gradual, and incredibly rewarding.
This drama is wonderfully character-driven, with every character written with intention and depth. The pacing is tight and consistent, divided into distinct, meaningful arcs. I found myself smiling, laughing, crying, and even stressing out right along with the story. I have to give so much credit to the scriptwriters-there are no pointless misunderstandings between the leads. Once they become close, they trust each other wholeheartedly, even before fully realizing their feelings.
The actors made their relationship so heartfelt that even the happiest moments brought me to tears just from the way they spoke to each other. Their quiet defenses of one another, the scenes where one supported the other without their knowledge, and their tender heart-to-heart moments, every bit of it was moving.
As for the ending? I loved it. I really appreciate that it wasn’t open-ended. We got closure, joy, and happy outcomes for all the supporting characters. It’s absolutely a drama I would rewatch.
So let this be your sign, if you haven’t seen it yet, add it to your list and start watching! It’s worth every moment.
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