This review may contain spoilers
A Love Story With Missing Pages
Born as the daughter of a concubine, Yan Xing grows up under the guidance of the Ministry of Justice’s chief inspector, sharpening her mind and developing skills for uncovering truths hidden within evidence. After successfully passing the examination to become a female official, she sets her sights on exposing criminals and defending justice. Her plans take an unexpected turn when her third sister escapes an imperial marriage arranged by the Empress Dowager, forcing Yan Xing to step in as the bride to protect her family. Her reluctant husband turns out to be Shen Du, the feared and formidable head of the imperial guard. As strange cases begin to plague the capital, the two are drawn into working together. Through danger, investigation, and reluctant partnership, their bond slowly deepens as they uncover a massive conspiracy threatening the peace of Xiang’an City.
Right from the very first episode, Shen Du commanded attention. Dark, aloof, cold, intimidating, and honestly kind of terrifying. Pair that with Yan Xing, who lives and breathes investigations, got me hooked. This was exactly my kind of setup. A scary man with secrets and a girl who refuses to stop asking questions. Even better, I am a certified fan of the bad guy good girl trope, and this pairing delivered that vibe immediately. Shen Du treats Yan Xing with ice cold indifference at first, and I loved it. Their energies clash in the best way. On the surface, they feel like night and day. He is quiet, shadowy, and sharp edged. She is bright, stubborn, and driven by justice. But the more you watch, the more you realize they are strangely alike. Both are loyal to a fault, emotionally guarded, and shaped by their pasts and experiences.
Speaking of the past, this drama teases us with a shared childhood connection. Yan Xing remembers. Shen Du does not. Yan Xing probably sees him as an old friend, maybe even a source of comfort from her younger days. Shen Du, on the other hand, seems to have buried those memories somewhere deep. I always felt like Yan Xing was a light during his darker years, and that feeling lingered even when he forgot her. I was actually glad he only remembered after he had already fallen for her. That made the love feel earned, not something fueled by childhood nostalgia. Still, this past connection is one of those tropes that gets mentioned early, disappears for ages, and then suddenly comes back like a dramatic surprise guest.
The first half of this drama was genuinely entertaining. The chemistry between Yan Xing and Shen Du carried the story. I loved their cold bickering slowly turning into concern, jealousy, and affection. Watching intimidating Shen Du get worried and jealous over Yan Xing was extremely satisfying. Yan Xing taking care of Shen Du felt natural and sweet, because kindness is one of her core traits. Then came the second half. And oh boy. I hated it. I absolutely hated the fake divorce plot. It was unnecessary, frustrating, and drained all the momentum from the story. What made it worse was how easily Yan Xing forgave Shen Du at the end. After everything that happened, it felt rushed and undeserved.
I think the biggest mystery for me is when did these two fall in love. I am not joking when I say this question still lives rent free in my head. One moment they are agreeing to stay married for three months and then divorce. The next moment, they are deeply in love. Where was the turning point. Where was the moment. I could not find it. I do not think Yan Xing fell for Shen Du when they were young. She probably saw him as a friend. Shen Du probably fell for her back then, but since he did not remember, that should not count. So when did it happen. The fact that I cannot pinpoint it oddly irritates me, even after multiple rewatches.
Now let us talk about Yan Xing, because girl. I was honestly annoyed. I admire her passion and courage, but she acts first and thinks later way too often. She throws herself headfirst into danger without considering the consequences, and if Shen Du was not constantly there to save her, she would have died very early on in this drama. Her strong personality was not the issue. It was the repetitive cycle of reckless investigation followed by needing rescue that drove me up the wall.
Shen Du himself started off with so much potential. He was introduced as this dark, charismatic, and intimidating presence. But as the story progressed, that edge slowly disappeared. Suddenly he was being teased by Yan Xing’s friends and even a random kid. His darkness just melted away. I tried to give the drama the benefit of the doubt and tell myself this was the classic she changed me plot. But honestly, I wish he had stayed closer to his original characterization. That intimidating aura was one of his strongest charms. Not to mention, his night blindness. I know I should not overthink it, but I did. Yan Xing easily figures out a solution involving consuming some truly disgusting things. Are we supposed to believe Shen Du never tried that and just decided to live with all the lights on forever. It felt either careless or clearly written just to serve the plot.
The ensemble cast was a mixed bag. Lu Chui Chui was entertaining at first, and her relationship with Lai Luo Zhi was intriguing when he was still the mysterious masked man in the graveyard. Once he revealed himself, his personality did a complete turn. He became obsessive and confusing. He clearly had feelings for Lu Chui Chui, yet rarely showed them in front of others and mostly acted indifferent. I could not tell if this was bad writing or intentional characterization. I liked Lu Chui Chui’s bubbly personality early on, but her naivety became irritating later. Still, I was glad she got a happy ending.
Ding Yuxi and Deng Enxi delivered strong performances and undeniable chemistry. Even if the writing did not always do their characters justice, they worked beautifully together on screen. Ding Yuxi nailed Shen Du’s intimidating and dark traits, while Deng Enxi brought Yan Xing’s intelligence and warmth to life. Her eyes were especially captivating. And thanks to Yan Xing constantly calling his name, Shen Du has officially become one of those unforgettable Chinese drama character names.
Despite all its flaws, unanswered questions, and my endless complaints, this is a drama I genuinely enjoyed. I have rewatched it multiple times, although I stop before the story goes downhill. That probably says everything.
In the end, Melody of Golden Age is messy, frustrating, charming, and addictive. Just like many dramas we complain about but still cannot let go of.
Right from the very first episode, Shen Du commanded attention. Dark, aloof, cold, intimidating, and honestly kind of terrifying. Pair that with Yan Xing, who lives and breathes investigations, got me hooked. This was exactly my kind of setup. A scary man with secrets and a girl who refuses to stop asking questions. Even better, I am a certified fan of the bad guy good girl trope, and this pairing delivered that vibe immediately. Shen Du treats Yan Xing with ice cold indifference at first, and I loved it. Their energies clash in the best way. On the surface, they feel like night and day. He is quiet, shadowy, and sharp edged. She is bright, stubborn, and driven by justice. But the more you watch, the more you realize they are strangely alike. Both are loyal to a fault, emotionally guarded, and shaped by their pasts and experiences.
Speaking of the past, this drama teases us with a shared childhood connection. Yan Xing remembers. Shen Du does not. Yan Xing probably sees him as an old friend, maybe even a source of comfort from her younger days. Shen Du, on the other hand, seems to have buried those memories somewhere deep. I always felt like Yan Xing was a light during his darker years, and that feeling lingered even when he forgot her. I was actually glad he only remembered after he had already fallen for her. That made the love feel earned, not something fueled by childhood nostalgia. Still, this past connection is one of those tropes that gets mentioned early, disappears for ages, and then suddenly comes back like a dramatic surprise guest.
The first half of this drama was genuinely entertaining. The chemistry between Yan Xing and Shen Du carried the story. I loved their cold bickering slowly turning into concern, jealousy, and affection. Watching intimidating Shen Du get worried and jealous over Yan Xing was extremely satisfying. Yan Xing taking care of Shen Du felt natural and sweet, because kindness is one of her core traits. Then came the second half. And oh boy. I hated it. I absolutely hated the fake divorce plot. It was unnecessary, frustrating, and drained all the momentum from the story. What made it worse was how easily Yan Xing forgave Shen Du at the end. After everything that happened, it felt rushed and undeserved.
I think the biggest mystery for me is when did these two fall in love. I am not joking when I say this question still lives rent free in my head. One moment they are agreeing to stay married for three months and then divorce. The next moment, they are deeply in love. Where was the turning point. Where was the moment. I could not find it. I do not think Yan Xing fell for Shen Du when they were young. She probably saw him as a friend. Shen Du probably fell for her back then, but since he did not remember, that should not count. So when did it happen. The fact that I cannot pinpoint it oddly irritates me, even after multiple rewatches.
Now let us talk about Yan Xing, because girl. I was honestly annoyed. I admire her passion and courage, but she acts first and thinks later way too often. She throws herself headfirst into danger without considering the consequences, and if Shen Du was not constantly there to save her, she would have died very early on in this drama. Her strong personality was not the issue. It was the repetitive cycle of reckless investigation followed by needing rescue that drove me up the wall.
Shen Du himself started off with so much potential. He was introduced as this dark, charismatic, and intimidating presence. But as the story progressed, that edge slowly disappeared. Suddenly he was being teased by Yan Xing’s friends and even a random kid. His darkness just melted away. I tried to give the drama the benefit of the doubt and tell myself this was the classic she changed me plot. But honestly, I wish he had stayed closer to his original characterization. That intimidating aura was one of his strongest charms. Not to mention, his night blindness. I know I should not overthink it, but I did. Yan Xing easily figures out a solution involving consuming some truly disgusting things. Are we supposed to believe Shen Du never tried that and just decided to live with all the lights on forever. It felt either careless or clearly written just to serve the plot.
The ensemble cast was a mixed bag. Lu Chui Chui was entertaining at first, and her relationship with Lai Luo Zhi was intriguing when he was still the mysterious masked man in the graveyard. Once he revealed himself, his personality did a complete turn. He became obsessive and confusing. He clearly had feelings for Lu Chui Chui, yet rarely showed them in front of others and mostly acted indifferent. I could not tell if this was bad writing or intentional characterization. I liked Lu Chui Chui’s bubbly personality early on, but her naivety became irritating later. Still, I was glad she got a happy ending.
Ding Yuxi and Deng Enxi delivered strong performances and undeniable chemistry. Even if the writing did not always do their characters justice, they worked beautifully together on screen. Ding Yuxi nailed Shen Du’s intimidating and dark traits, while Deng Enxi brought Yan Xing’s intelligence and warmth to life. Her eyes were especially captivating. And thanks to Yan Xing constantly calling his name, Shen Du has officially become one of those unforgettable Chinese drama character names.
Despite all its flaws, unanswered questions, and my endless complaints, this is a drama I genuinely enjoyed. I have rewatched it multiple times, although I stop before the story goes downhill. That probably says everything.
In the end, Melody of Golden Age is messy, frustrating, charming, and addictive. Just like many dramas we complain about but still cannot let go of.
Was this review helpful to you?
