Destined (2023)

The drama started out strong, with a formidable female character who is as resourceful as she is kindhearted. I enjoyed Song Yi as Liu Yu Ru and initially assumed that she will be a pushover due to her dainty appearance, but she held her own despite the circumstances surrounding her family. With a twist of fate, Yu Ru got herself hitched to the male lead, despite her fervent adoration for another man.

For his part, Bai Jing Ting portrays Gu Jiu Si with all the playfulness when he was a delinquent and with all the seriousness when he became a high-ranking official. The two leads ooze enough chemistry to make their sham marriage believable. However, I almost gave up mid-way through this drama as it dragged through politics but I was interested enough in Gu Jiu Si's character development to continue.

I also liked the secondary characters, especially the brotherhood between the two kings and the friendship among the young group who were supportive of each other despite past grievances. Jiu Si and Yuru's benevolence knows no bounds, that it sometimes becomes a detriment to the show. Perhaps the message is to forgive those who wronged you, and people who make mistakes can get a second or a third chance. But just because it's a noble thing to do, doesn't mean that people should get away with murder and still be able to live their lives without consequences.

I feel that the final episodes were a bit anti-climactic for me and the drama lost some of its steam as it tries to wrap up some loose ends. But all in all, a decent offering, if you take a break or two,

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Story of togetherness

Story of two persons ,one who spent her entire life inorder to become a better person to get marry with Ye Shi An who was belong to renowned family and he himself was famous person among the girls . Second one always jeolous with him and if whosoever admired him ,the second person take a class of him or her . female lead's and male lead's were the person . ML make fun of FL infront of the public the reson behind that was she loved Ye Shi An and wanted to marry him . ML in public made fun of her by saying that he loved her and wanted to marry her . She felt embarrassed and asked him to let her go but he put a condition to let her go . In public she had to insult Ye Shi An . She did so . But everyone thought ML and FL were the couples . This rumour reached to their home . In order to stop this slander ML's family decided to make them marry and from here the story had started.
Both the leads were together since starting of drama but their chemistry would be seen very late . I liked the drama as well as the acting of actors specially Luo Zi Shang , his acting was amazing .

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Feel good factor

The best part of this drama was the outstanding cast. Chemistry among them was great - the married couple (main leads), the sworn brothers and sister - of which there were many. Liu YueYi was outstanding in the portrayal of the villain and he got me really hating the character. Aside from this, the story on the whole was interesting although you could find numerous illogical parts in them and too many coincidences.

Gu JiuSi 's parents were in a hurry to find him a bride before the emperor's decree arrived for him to marry the princess. Mistaking the joke he played on Liu YuRu who he actually disliked as an expression of true affection, his parents hurriedly arranged for them to get married. The marriage was immediately accepted by YuRu's greedy parents as the Gus were very wealthy. They were married much to each others anguish. YuRu was in love with another and JiuSi thought she was a very scheming girl. There were numerous funny incidents arising from this.

However, their lives were thrown together as they had to weather through thick and thin, first trying to escape the predatory Yangzhou governor who were out for their wealth and then in YouZhou where they had to fight to defend the provincial capital from the attack of Prince Liang. Their paths finally took them to high positions in the country capital where more dangers awaited them.

There were many illogical parts which you could poke holes at. Why would the Empress Dowager insisted on marrying the Princess to JiuSi who was already married by then, when there were so many eligible bachelors including the Crown Prince of the new dynasty? Why did the emperor appoint the treacherous Luo Zishang as the Grand Tutor when there were better choices? What kind of medicine could make a person looked dead and then revived? This seemed to be a favourite tact in Chinese dramas and was so cliche. Why chose to stay at an inn which was obviously owned by the governor? The explanation that it was to be right under his nose so he would overlook was so illogical. And just by selling cosmetics, one can get so rich in so short a time, really?

And there were too many convenient coincidences. JiuSi and YuRu fainted on arriving in YouZhou just as Zhou Ye arrived to find them. YuRu arrived back in YangZhou just as Ye ShiAn was at the checkpoint to let them through. YuRu's mother fell of the cliff to be rescued by Ye ShiAn. If it happened otherwise, they would be toast. Always at the edge of danger, rescue came. Coincidences happened in life but just not so frequent and so fortunate.

Many things were not explained. How did Luo ZiShang rise from an orphaned beggar to be so influential? Why did he mistook the wrong father?

There were however some suspenseful parts which would make you clench your teeth and swear at the foolishness and stubbornness of some of the characters: General Zhou's wilful rejection of the emperor's attempt to connect, and the young Crown Prince's stupidity in not being able to see through and handle the Grand Tutor's scheming.

Finally, there was the feel good factor at the end. The capable and righteous became emperor, not yet another child emperor who was there because of lineage.

Overall, in spite of my nitpicking, I think this drama was very entertaining and worth watching.

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It was good then it got political

I liked this because for the most part it was light and fun to watch, with some seriousness.

I really love the ML actor, he has a charming quality about him.

The FL character was interesting, she did annoy me with her snivelling mews of weeping, but she actually was a strong minded and independent character who grew a lot.

It doesn't focus too much on romance, which is a little bit of a shame because their healthy developing relationship was sweet and I felt like just nice and normal.

I hate how political it suddenly became as I always get confused about who's who and what's happening. There just got to be too many characters and too much palace power struggle and conflict happening. I dropped it so close to the end - only about 8-9 episodes to go, but I just couldn't keep my interest up for it,

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Emotional and Inspirational: 'Destined' Leaves a Lasting Impact

No words can describe how great this was. Definitely one of my favourite dramas. The storyline is just so damn good, every episode I was captivated and wanted to know what happened next. The character growth was insane, especially Gu Jiusi and Liu Yuru, who were such a power couple. In Destined, there was so many inspirational and emotional things that I need to write down. Let me just say, every death had me feeling something, I would say most of them were necessary but it's not like they didn't hurt. So many things happened in this show and when it ended I literally felt empty. And of course, I have to talk about Luo Zishang (Liu XueYi). I know he was a villain but I felt so bad for him but not at the same time. He was hot and had a sad backstory, what can I say? Excellent acting and I was satisfied with the ending, overall I rate it 10/10, so good!

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Destined is a great historical romantic “comedy”. It is a drama with stellar actors that did a great job bringing their characters to life. There are usual twisted palace antic, great action scenes, striking cinematography, remarkable friendships, and a strong, beautiful and steadfast slow burned romance for the leading couple. Although their great romantic scenes are at episodes 27 and 28 only, the leading couple oozed phenomenal chemistry every time they were together, even when they were bickering, just looking at each other, or planning their next strategic move. This drama might seem not well done for individuals that were looking for a great factual based historical drama with no plot holes, but for those looking for a drama on a leading couple who are perfect match in mind and spirit with great values and deep love for family, friends, and their countryman, this drama offers all of that in a very satisfying way and entertaining way, Enjoy it!

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Best drama for women, understanding couple, forgiving nature.

I am very pleased after watching this drama, It doesn't show emotion of 1 character. it tells collective stories of all the characters and in a very raw, unfiltered, and natural way.

I also doesn't show super powerful villain or hero but rather show how they use their brains and even lie and trick to win the battles. The plots were not like alien attacks or supernatural infact they were exactly what you would expect from a historical drama like war, politics, society, and all these small social issues.

My only thing that i wanted to see was the highschool reunion of drinking wine of jisung that they promised in early episodes. Every Time jisung visit his hometown i was expecting the reunion from his best buddy but it never happened i was expecting it at the last episode too. His friends sacrificed so much for him i really wanted them to see each other again sometime.

But it was so good it has sorrow but still understandable. i cried alot but also enjoyed every single episode. There wasn't a single episode i ever wanted to skip. Thank you to actors, producers and writers for bringing this to light.

No crazy or sad ending thank god. Jisung and ye acting was good according to roles. Yuru was also good.

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Paying the price for stupidity

Let me just say JH and ZLS's relationship as father and son is messy and the reason for the rebellion at Yangzhou and the annihilation of the families of ZY YSH and LY. But ZLS didn't even realize he is taking revenge on Gu family until the last minute. ZLS could have been admirable had he walked the right path after all that struggle but he felt the world was unfair to him he so he should take revenge on the world too.

LY and GJS this couple was so perfect although their marriage was an accident at the beginning LY determination to make it work was admirable. Their relationship was built on trust so no matter what ZLS does LY won't be swayed.

SM and YY was an unexpected pairing but cute too bad the series didn't show how this relationship developed.

ZY and QW could have been perfect too bad it was not. They admore each other and fell for each other but because of LZS plot they never got the chance to live happily.

The brotherhoods:
Gen. Zhou and Emperor Fan's friendship is so admirable. GZ pointed to EF that his son is not fit for the role after trying to frame GJS for murder. A real friend is not scared to tell the truth it hurt but EF knew he was right but he loved his pathetic son.

ZY, YSA, SM, and GS these three combined is unbeatable from plottinf to assessing the situation they are brains and brawl combined. Their concern for each other was sincere and their friendship built on going through thick and thin and life and death.

The sisterhood between YY, LY, QW was showb briefly but they meshed well.

Side:
Mom in laws- these two are pillars for LY and GS they were able to do what they want because the MILs trust them. No monster in law here. Maybe LYR dad but he died early.

The righthand man of ZLS and his lady ally who keeps on being used and manipulated. I felt vad for them and happy for Lady Feng to have realized she can have a life without ZLS after her talk to LY. Her ending is fit for the story.

All in all the current generation is paying the price or consequences of what happened in the previous dynasty, there are other irritating characters like the dowager empress and princess but they also got whatvthey deserved off screen.

The last episode where they tried to stop GZ from killing FY was epic in a way. It's an ending fit for how everything went down but a bit anticlimatic if you ask me.

Actors were will fit and acted freat to the point that I want to curse LXY for his role as LZS .

***many actors were on BOY and even the scene of GZ at the last epsiode was similar tothe BOY ep when they tried to usurp the throne***

Osts:
Liu Yuning's ost for this drama was good and all the songs were well chosen to fit the story.

Rewatch: definitely specially the beginning when GJS was aimless and LY trying to mold him to be who he should be.

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Long time not found very enjoyable historical drama. This drama make me laugh & cry with them.

The story start from a girl named Liu Yu Ru (YR) that comes from business family, that even though she is the legitimate daughter, but her father prefer & more love her step sisters (from Concubine). So from the injustice in her home, she plans her future life where she can married to good family so she can support her mom, Ye family is her goal. But life turn upside down when she meet Gu Jiu Si (JS), a playful rich man, that never have consequence for his action including everything that come out from his mouth. As the result, YR find herself engaged to JS in the end. And their story begin.... ^^

At first of course YR try to avoid her destiny to married to JS, but in the end she accept her fate & finally she even manage to change JS. Her action of course supported by JS's parent that also want to see their son change into better man. Mean while there's a man in the shadow that ready to turn their world upside down, together with the changing politic in the capital city, that make Gu family loses their support. In this drama we see how support from family & friend, together with clever & smart decision from YR & JS make their journey full of story that we can watch together. Haha...

What I like:
+ What I really like about YR is what ever life give her, she take it, try her best & sometimes even punch life back in its face. Haha... Really like how in the end she really can stand & make the power for herself.
+ The chemistry between Bai Jing Ting & Song Yi quite good. Love to see they love each other, not to the point lovey dovey but enough for us to feel their love for each other.
+ Bai Jing Ting give us good performance for JS. We can sense that even though people see him as aloof rich man, but he is kind man & later on we can see how he grow up become smart & mature man.
+ All the friendship JS, Ye Shi An, Zhou Ye & Shen Ming is one solid friend, they willing to do their best to support their friend. We also have Fan Xuan & Zhou Gao Lang, (the emperor & his right hand man) even though in the end they kinda grow apart, but that also one lifetime friendship.
+ How love never make people stupid here. Like even though Luo Zi Shang (ZS) love YR, but he never stop or even pause his plan even for the sake of YR herself.
+ We can see the strong woman here. Like YR & Ye Yun (YY). How YY herself also turn herself around after what Wang Shan Quan did to her.

Now the minus:
- They never really give the deep background of our villain, ZS, Never at least until the last episode we finally understand why he did it & where the grudge come from. And that just one stupid misunderstanding in the end,
- The obsession of Fan Yu to become emperor never really explained. His swift in the character is the one that make my eyebrow raised the most. I know this not a story about him, so we don't get too much explanation about him. maybe if the episode longer we gonna get some explanation about this. But I mean how a boy that at one time really trust, adore JS & I can say a good kind hearted boy can change to become jealous, sentiment and all the obsession about the throne itself. Maybe the explanation lays in the last interaction between him & his father, where we can see how hurt he is that his father is more trust JS than him as his son.

Overall this really one good drama that I enjoy very much...

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Um drama sobre confiança e responsabilidade

A Review contém spoilers, então apenas leia se já terminou a obra e gostaria de ler a opinião de outra pessoa que gostou muito do enredo.
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Se podemos resumir os pontos altos desse dorama com certeza seria a construção e evolução dos personagens principais de maneira singular e como isto formou a relação de amor e confiança entre os dois.

Primeiro Liu Yuru — ela se apresenta na superfície como uma personagem de uma moça comum, que sofreu na infância por questões familiares e que por isso sonha com um bom casamento.

Já Gu Jiusi — é um menino rico e mimado, que nunca teve preocupações na vida e vive da maneira que quer.

Contudo, essa é apenas a visão superficial dos dois, e quando são obrigados a se casar, acabam por mostrar seu verdadeiro lado um ao outro, enquanto colocados em prova nas dificuldades do enredo.

A história circula entre apostas dos protagonistas, seja sobre seu casamento, suas conquistas profissionais e o futuro da nação, apostas arriscadas, mas sempre visando o bem.

A construção da relação de confiança da Yuru e do Jiusi foi palpável, bem escrita e emocionante. A relação deles foi formada passo a passo e de maneira sólida, tanto que em todos os problemas enfrentados havia diálogo entre eles, ajuda de ambos e confiança mútua em suas decisões. Eles eram realmente jades puras e essenciais para a paz do reino.

Particularmente, minha parte preferida foi a que eles ficaram em Youzhou. Todo o enredo desse arco foi impecável, tendo seu ápice na cena que Jiusi defende os portões da cidade com apenas 10 mil soldados, com a Yuru cuidando das pessoas comuns em seu interior. A tensão e o medo pode ser sentido em cada cena, em especial na que eles finalmente admitem seus sentimentos e aceitam a morte desde que fiquem juntos. — Em relação a essa última parte, mesmo que até então eles não tenham demonstrado afeições físicas, os dois já agiam como um casal que se amava, ganhando muitos pontos em demostrar que o amor em sua plenitude não é apenas algo físico mas muito mais que isso, mais sobre as emoções intrínsecas nas ações, o respeito e a confiança. Assim, naquele momento, foi possivel ver que os dois já se amavam profundamente.

Outro ponto muito gratificante de se assistir foi a colocação das mulheres neste drama, sobre eles mostrarem sua luta pela igualdade e como elas se provaram conquistando sucesso em diversas áreas de atuação, seja na rica família de comerciantes Gu, administrada com perfeição pela Sra. Jiang Rou, e posteriormente pela Yuru, a força da General Qin WanZhi, a luta da médica Ye Yun — estamos aqui para ver mulheres fod@s no poder.


Um dorama muito bom, que por ter tantas cenas e enredos bem feitos fez com que o final deixasse uma sensação que poderia ter sido mais marcante. Isso é perceptível quando analisa-se a história do grande vilão Luo Zishang, que tramou durante toda a obra para no desfecho descobrir-se que a história não era bem aquela que ele acreditava. A cena de revelação de seu grande plano foi meio vazia, não passando a emoção que deveria — Eu esperava mais um "eu sou seu irmão" e uma grande reação. Contudo, no final é compreensível que um drama todo focado na importância da confiança entre os personagens finaliza-se com o entendimento que as pessoas que você mais ama e te ajudam são as que você deveria confiar — não em alguém que tramou a obra inteira.

Alem disso, por outro lado, o fim em relação ao futuro do reino me agradou, apesar de não ser um final feliz para todos.

Como a série mostra, o trono é um lugar solitário. E todos que chegaram lá acabaram de certa forma destruídos. O enredo de Fan Xuan e Zhou Gaolang foi triste de se assistir, eles eram melhores amigos, irmãos, mas a pressão do trono fez com que eles se afastassem. Uma suspeita, um mal entendido, fez com que houvesse uma quebra de confiança. Amargamente, apesar disso, no final vemos que Fan Xuan errou em suas palavras e atitudes, mas que no fundo seus sentimentos sempre foram os mesmos que dividiu com Zhao Gaolang no começo de suas jornadas. Contudo, Zhao Gaolang se sente traído, acreditando na perda da confiança de seu amigo somada a dificuldade de interpretação da fala ambígua de Fan Xuan ao pedir para ele ser o próximo imperador, que no começo pareceu um teste, mas no final era mesmo a vontade de um pai que queria muito acreditar que seu filho poderia mudar.

Por fim, Zhao Gaolang sobe ao trono, destruído, sem sua família, sem seu melhor amigo, mas com a responsabilidade de manter o Estado seguro, a mesma responsabilidade que os dois assumiram quando conquistaram Darong da rebelião.

Posteriormente o trono é dado a Zhou Ye, outro personagem com um bom caráter, e junto com Ye Shi'an, Shen Ming, Ye Yun, e claro Jiusi e Yuru, criam uma dinastia mais justa e próspera — sendo este um bom final para toda a luta dos protagonistas.

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good start, good drama, but story is very unoriginal

Destined (2023) - 8,5/10 -cdrama

historical cdrama witth quite nice and :unusual: start of :forced marriage: and hate/love relationship.
Still in middle and end drama it goes to old thousand times used :fight for throne and court intrigues:

main leads personality changes in course of the story to better. As for chemistry between all pairs. Its good but its lacks something.

plot - ML is notorious son of provincial wealthiest family[Gu family]. FL is is only legitimate daughter of former merchant, sadly her father dotes on concubine and she lives in :hell: together with her mother. FL tries to marry into famous scholar family of city to run from oppression, but unluckily she crosses way with ML and pisses him off. ML in his prankish retaliation publicly confessed his love for her and destroyed her :honor: that way + closed her chance to marry into scholar family. Sadly for ML his parents heard of it and made him marry her, partly too cause Emperor tried to force marriage between ML and princess in attempt to :steal: their family wealth that way.

genre - romance, historical, wuxia

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Destined for each other!!

Destined is an intense emotional family drama which focuses on the couple Gu Jiusi and Liu Yuru and how they fight with the situations that arise in their life,withstand all the difficulties,go through life and death situations,but still stand strong with each other.
It is my second drama of Bai Jingting after Reset,so as expected ,his acting skills were on point,From being a spoilt scion to a responsible person who protects thereafter,his transformation was nice.Also,i like the way he always supports his wife and her decisions throughout their journey.
Liu Yuru,though accidentally and unwillingly tied the knot with Gu Jiusi,has always been one responsible,loyal,caring and loving wife and daughter in law.Song Yi's performance was also on point.
Liu Xue Yi as Luo Zishang,though is cruel,has his own reasons to become like that.He is the much needed villain an the actor was also good.
All the cast were good in their roles.
The story was directed in an engaging manner right from the first episode itself.There were comic,emotional,tensive,patriotic moments in the drama.
I would highly recommend to watch it .You will not be disappointed.

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