I keep running into Bai Jingting’s dramas, and he keeps surprising me with his considerable acting range.
EPISODE 1 RECAP
A girl from a noble family – Liu Yuru (Song Yi) – is painting outdoors on a beautiful snowy day.
And don’t think she is fragile and weak just because of her looks, she’s obviously strong enough to grab the pen steadily and make this entire painting in this weather.
By the way, for the most part of this scene, I thought the maid was the female lead. I mean, look at that adorable face, how could she not be the female lead?
Just a maid? Are you kidding me?
Anyway, bad news comes almost immediately. Yuru’s mother is sick and her home is out of money. The relaxing piano music in the background sets the mood to let you know that this kind of crisis happens pretty often in Yuru ’s life.
There are a lot of discussions back and forth, but long story short: there’s a way to get some money and make Yuru’s mother well again for the time being, and it has to do with a fur wrap. This fur wrap has just recently been sold to a rich nobleman, so Yuru sets out to find this man to negotiate.
The man in question (more like a young man) is kind of a spoiled kid but with a kind heart. Named Gu Jiusi (Bai Jingting), he likes spending time outdoors and hangs out with a group of brats more spoiled than himself.
But even so, they don’t stop him from being nice and charitable. Once, Jiusi gave a freezing beggar kid a white fur wrap that… Uh-oh.
That’s the fur thing Yuru is looking for.
By the way, while Jiusi is at it, maybe he should give away that awful bright red robe he has on too, it is way too red for anyone’s good.
Like, are you trying to make it easier for kidnappers and assassins to find you and blackmail your family or what?
When Yuru finds Gu Jiusi, they have a meet-cute encounter where Jiusi thought she was insulting him by not showing her face. But as he lifts the veil she wears, he blushes even more than she does.
The moment doesn’t last long because Jiusi declares casually that he has sold the fur wrap to who-knows-whom and he doesn’t remember who.
Yuru is furious, calls him a brat and storms away.
A noble Lady Liang is having a tea party and most women of wealthy families in the area are invited. Lady Liang tells them all there’s no need to stand on ceremony, and just relax and enjoy the party. As if. This kind of party is where all the gossip and backstabbing happen.
Time for the ladies to present their gifts to Lady Liang. Everyone there is rich so they take turns showing off. Yuru, however, brings only a simple painting as a gift. And you can guess the kind of comments she gets from the guests in the room: disgrace, humiliation, uneducated, improper, etc.
But when Lady Liang opens the painting, it pleases her the most. The painting depicts her time as a young warrior fighting on horseback. Points for Yuru.
The girls begin to venture out into the backyard in groups to have fun. Yuru talks to her friend who is about to get married to Jiusi. This girl is not happy with the arrangement so Yuru gives her some advice: be the opposite of everything Jiusi likes and he will break the engagement himself.
And what do you know, Jiusi has been listening to this conversation behind a rock the whole time. He charges out like a wounded puppy — ready to bite — and is like: who the heck even wants to marry you huh? Not me!
The girls were so terrified that they called for the mansion’s guards, who chase Jiusi and his gang away.
After that whole shenanigan, Yuru goes back inside. The kind Lady Liang stands up for her when one of the rich moms bullies her; and she said she believes it is time for Yuru to be matched. You know, MARRIED!
Yuru is beyond happy. She thought that with her family situation, she would never be able to find a respectable man who wants to marry her. But now that Lady Liang has her back, it is a piece of cake.
Unless, of course, a certain spoiled rich brat holds a grudge against her and is determined to meet her again and possibly marry her for revenge.
COMMENTS
I can’t say that this drama is groundbreaking or unique in any way. But so far, it has been heartwarming fun. It is more of an atmospheric story than a plot-driven one, at least up to where I am with the episodes. The drama is determined to set up the mood for this romance that takes place in deep winter with fluttering snow and luxurious costumes, etc. And if you can get over the bright color palette and the extreme screen filter that leaves no room for human flaws, I’d say this wintery setup works great in the drama’s favor so far.
In terms of acting, props to Bai Jingting for taking on a large variety of roles from the beginning of his career. From Rise of Phoenixes to here, he has played many types of characters; and while he isn’t outstanding, he certainly fulfils what his characters require.
I have not seen Song Yi in any dramas before. Based on this drama alone, I would say that while there is nothing wrong with her acting, her screen presence isn’t particularly strong.
When her character stands among the group of women at the party or among any group of people, there isn’t anything that distinguishes her from the others except that we know she is smart and can paint. As I mentioned above, I mistook the maid for the female lead for a few seconds. But perhaps Song Yi’s acting in later episodes will give the character some uniqueness it needs, we don’t know yet.
That’s it for Destined for now. I hope the drama maintains its strengths until the end. And maybe… don’t attempt anything tragic.