This review may contain spoilers
Such a Hidden Gemz!
I first saw Ci Sha in The Shadow's Edge, and I honestly thought he was more of a film actor than a drama actor. I couldn't imagine him leading a romance drama, but here I am, writing a long review about one 😂
First of all, I have this habit of looking up the actors before I start a drama, and I swear my jaw dropped for a whole minute when I found out Ci Sha and Winwin (Dong Sicheng) are the same age. Like... wow. 😂 They look so different. That's how you maximize human resources in the entertainment industry, I guess.
Anyway, I started this drama with zero expectations. It was also my first time watching the female lead, but wow... it turned out to be SO good. Like, GOOD good.
I watched it right after Moli, and somehow this drama gave me everything I had been hoping to get from Moli. After watching A Splendid Match, I can finally admit that Moli failed to deliver some of the scenes I was expecting. Like... this is how you execute a battle scene! Watching those amazing war sequences here completely healed my disappointment with Moli. I couldn't help comparing the two since I watched them back-to-back.
The first 17 episodes may feel a little slow because they're focused on the female lead's growth from a young girl into a mature woman. Her personality development takes time, and many of the choices she makes early on come back to affect her later. It may feel frustrating at times, but those conflicts are necessary for her character arc.
The war scenes in Episodes 38–39 were absolutely EPIC. Everything I wanted from a large-scale battle was there: the strategy, the emotions, the loyalty, the fear, the sacrifice, and the sheer grandeur. The choreography was incredible, and the second male lead's ending was heartbreaking yet so beautifully done. That's exactly how you deliver an unforgettable war sequence.
The final episode was probably the weakest part of the drama. It felt a bit rushed, and some storylines weren't wrapped up as neatly as I hoped. I was about to ask WHERE IS MY MAIN COUPLE LOVEY DOVEY SCENE??? But then they gave us the extra chapter (seriously, don't skip it, it's adorable... and a little sexy too 😏), so I'll forgive the writers lol.
The acting is excellent, the OST is beautiful, and although the pacing might feel slow for some viewers, please keep watching until around Episodes 18–23. That's when everything starts coming together, and the story really takes off.
I didn't like Ye Xian at first, but he ended up becoming one of the best supporting characters. He literally sent his own army to help them and fought alongside them. He deserved a much happier ending with his new little girl.
The drama does use some familiar historical C-drama tropes, the evil (?) stepsister fighting over the dowry, the useless father, the twisted (?) stepmother, beautiful women surrounded by lots of admirers but somehow it still feels fresh enough to keep you invested.
The political storyline is surprisingly engaging, and the villain is fantastic. I previously watched the actor in The Guilty, and honestly, he was born to play villains.
Ci Sha's character and Ren Min's character have completely different personalities and objectives, and I loved how naturally they portrayed that contrast. Their chemistry was amazing, even though they're only two years apart in real life.
Overall, A Splendid Match is such a hidden gem. It has one of the best war sequences I've seen in a historical C-drama (seriously, two episodes of epic battles!), solid political intrigue, great performances, and a lead who's allowed to be flawed, make mistakes, and grow instead of being unrealistically overpowered from the start.
Give it a try! You might end up loving it as much as I did.
First of all, I have this habit of looking up the actors before I start a drama, and I swear my jaw dropped for a whole minute when I found out Ci Sha and Winwin (Dong Sicheng) are the same age. Like... wow. 😂 They look so different. That's how you maximize human resources in the entertainment industry, I guess.
Anyway, I started this drama with zero expectations. It was also my first time watching the female lead, but wow... it turned out to be SO good. Like, GOOD good.
I watched it right after Moli, and somehow this drama gave me everything I had been hoping to get from Moli. After watching A Splendid Match, I can finally admit that Moli failed to deliver some of the scenes I was expecting. Like... this is how you execute a battle scene! Watching those amazing war sequences here completely healed my disappointment with Moli. I couldn't help comparing the two since I watched them back-to-back.
The first 17 episodes may feel a little slow because they're focused on the female lead's growth from a young girl into a mature woman. Her personality development takes time, and many of the choices she makes early on come back to affect her later. It may feel frustrating at times, but those conflicts are necessary for her character arc.
The war scenes in Episodes 38–39 were absolutely EPIC. Everything I wanted from a large-scale battle was there: the strategy, the emotions, the loyalty, the fear, the sacrifice, and the sheer grandeur. The choreography was incredible, and the second male lead's ending was heartbreaking yet so beautifully done. That's exactly how you deliver an unforgettable war sequence.
The final episode was probably the weakest part of the drama. It felt a bit rushed, and some storylines weren't wrapped up as neatly as I hoped. I was about to ask WHERE IS MY MAIN COUPLE LOVEY DOVEY SCENE??? But then they gave us the extra chapter (seriously, don't skip it, it's adorable... and a little sexy too 😏), so I'll forgive the writers lol.
The acting is excellent, the OST is beautiful, and although the pacing might feel slow for some viewers, please keep watching until around Episodes 18–23. That's when everything starts coming together, and the story really takes off.
I didn't like Ye Xian at first, but he ended up becoming one of the best supporting characters. He literally sent his own army to help them and fought alongside them. He deserved a much happier ending with his new little girl.
The drama does use some familiar historical C-drama tropes, the evil (?) stepsister fighting over the dowry, the useless father, the twisted (?) stepmother, beautiful women surrounded by lots of admirers but somehow it still feels fresh enough to keep you invested.
The political storyline is surprisingly engaging, and the villain is fantastic. I previously watched the actor in The Guilty, and honestly, he was born to play villains.
Ci Sha's character and Ren Min's character have completely different personalities and objectives, and I loved how naturally they portrayed that contrast. Their chemistry was amazing, even though they're only two years apart in real life.
Overall, A Splendid Match is such a hidden gem. It has one of the best war sequences I've seen in a historical C-drama (seriously, two episodes of epic battles!), solid political intrigue, great performances, and a lead who's allowed to be flawed, make mistakes, and grow instead of being unrealistically overpowered from the start.
Give it a try! You might end up loving it as much as I did.
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