LayarHijau— The drama A Splendid Match (良陳美錦), starring Ren Min and Ci Sha, released its final episode early for members on May 21. The finale delivers a major climax that brings the central conflicts to a head, but it has also sparked heated discussion among viewers who felt the conclusion was rushed and lacked proper closure.
SPOILER ALERT — this article contains finale plot details ️
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In the final stretch, Chen Yanyun, played by Ci Sha, faces his final confrontation with his former master turned enemy, Fu Hailian, portrayed by Wu Gang, inside a burning fire scene. Fu Hailian, already injured and exposed for his crimes, chooses to remain in the flames with his wife, and both ultimately perish in the fire.
Meanwhile, Chen Yanyun manages to carry Gu Jinchao, played by Ren Min, out of the burning site, allowing both of them to survive and bringing closure to the main conflict, which is presented as a “perfect ending.”
However, two key issues quickly became points of criticism among viewers. The first is the death of Ye Xian, played by Dong Sicheng, on the battlefield. He dies in war and leaves behind three farewell letters addressed to the emperor, his sister, and Gu Jinchao. As Gu Jinchao mourns beside Ye Xian’s body while recalling their shared memories, the moment becomes highly emotional, while Ye Xian is also shown wishing that Chen Yanyun would accompany Gu Jinchao for life.
During this emotional scene, Chen Yanyun suddenly collapses in the background, which sparked controversy. Many viewers found the moment confusing, as it was not written in the original script, leading to accusations that it was an improvisation that distracted attention from Ye Xian’s death scene.
The second criticism is the lack of any depiction of Chen Yanyun and Gu Jinchao’s married life after the main conflict ends. The story cuts off immediately after they escape the fire, without showing their life together, leaving many viewers feeling the ending was abrupt.
In addition, the central romance also drew mixed reactions. The chemistry between Ren Min and Ci Sha was described as average, and in some opinions even weaker than the tragic emotional bond between Gu Jinchao and Ye Xian, which left a stronger impression on parts of the audience.
On the other hand, Ci Sha’s performance was still praised, particularly for his expressive acting through subtle eye work in portraying Chen Yanyun. However, many felt the adaptation did not fully utilize the potential of the cast, resulting in a Douban rating of only 5.7 and a finale that failed to fully satisfy audience expectations.
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