All the makings of a great drama that unfortunately falls flat
Serendipity has all the makings of a solid historical drama: tragic backstories, political intrigue, secret identities, and a hint of romance. However, somewhere between solving mysteries and its identity crises, the drama itself falls off a cliff, gets amnesia, and never quite recovers.
What begins as a light-hearted romantic setup soon veers into a drawn out mystery plotline. The amnesia arc feels forgotten until the end while both the romance and overarching plot are hurriedly tied up in the final episodes.
The mystery angle starts off with promise as the leads navigate through a series of cases that chip away at a larger conspiracy. However, with minimal setup and even less payoff, each lead fizzles out. Just when progress is made, evidence is conveniently lost or dismissed, forcing yet another detour. Heroes and villains alike walk away from each encounter unscathed, deflating any real tension. By the time the story regains momentum, the suspense is long gone—you’ve known who the villains were all along and were just waiting for their inevitable and predictable downfall.
The romance aspect isn’t any better. While the male and female leads are individually well-developed with strong and compelling personalities, the chemistry between them never quite ignites. After pretending to be siblings for most of the show, their bond really ends up feeling more familial than romantic. Yes, they make sacrifices for one another. Yes, they go through emotional turmoil. But the dynamic lacks the emotional pull of a true love story. On the other hand, it is hard not to get second male lead syndrome as the second male lead is nearly flawless as he is charming, smart, kind, loyal, principled, and emotionally available.
As far as production and editing is concerned, I am really not a fan of episodes that cut out mid-sentence as it feels clumsy and takes away from the overall viewing experience. All that aside, I enjoyed the OST, the costumes and the props/scenery.
In the end, Serendipity isn’t a bad drama, just one that loses its way. It’s watchable, especially if you’re a fan of the genre, though it doesn’t quite live up to its potential.
What begins as a light-hearted romantic setup soon veers into a drawn out mystery plotline. The amnesia arc feels forgotten until the end while both the romance and overarching plot are hurriedly tied up in the final episodes.
The mystery angle starts off with promise as the leads navigate through a series of cases that chip away at a larger conspiracy. However, with minimal setup and even less payoff, each lead fizzles out. Just when progress is made, evidence is conveniently lost or dismissed, forcing yet another detour. Heroes and villains alike walk away from each encounter unscathed, deflating any real tension. By the time the story regains momentum, the suspense is long gone—you’ve known who the villains were all along and were just waiting for their inevitable and predictable downfall.
The romance aspect isn’t any better. While the male and female leads are individually well-developed with strong and compelling personalities, the chemistry between them never quite ignites. After pretending to be siblings for most of the show, their bond really ends up feeling more familial than romantic. Yes, they make sacrifices for one another. Yes, they go through emotional turmoil. But the dynamic lacks the emotional pull of a true love story. On the other hand, it is hard not to get second male lead syndrome as the second male lead is nearly flawless as he is charming, smart, kind, loyal, principled, and emotionally available.
As far as production and editing is concerned, I am really not a fan of episodes that cut out mid-sentence as it feels clumsy and takes away from the overall viewing experience. All that aside, I enjoyed the OST, the costumes and the props/scenery.
In the end, Serendipity isn’t a bad drama, just one that loses its way. It’s watchable, especially if you’re a fan of the genre, though it doesn’t quite live up to its potential.
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