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Perfect Match: Spoiler-Free Review

  • Jul 22
  • 3 min read

Title:

Perfect Match (2025) 五福临门

Platform:

Netflix, MGTV

MDL Rating:

8.4

Genre:

Period Idol Romance

Episode Count:

36

Parental Guidance Rating:

TV-14: Minor violence and blood, domestic violence (but it's supposed to be funny?)

Staring:

Lu Yu Xiao (Love Between Lines)

Liu Xie Ning (The Double)

Wu Xuan Yi (Duolou Continent)

Ke Ying (A Familiar Stranger)

Huangyang Tian Tian (Rebirth)

Wang Xing Yue (The Double)

(Ensemble cast. There is no definitive lead)

RBTS Rating:

1.8/5 Stars (Run like Mr. Collins is chasing you)


Synopsis:

During the Northern Song Dynasty under Renzong, Mrs. Li, from a wealthy Luoyang family, moves to Bianjing with her daughters, each unique in personality, to reunite with her second daughter and resolve a family matter. Despite their beauty and talent, her daughters struggle with marriage prospects, prompting Mrs. Li to seek new suitors in Bianjing. However, their journey is met with challenges, including social setbacks and difficulties in settling down. Ultimately, through perseverance and twists of fate, the Li family finds suitable husbands for the daughters, creating a lively comedy about marriage in the Northern Song Dynasty. @MDL



Stay Tuned: Full Review Still to Come!


Spoiler-Free Mini Review:

Perfect Match was advertised as the Chinese response to Pride and Prejudice, with poverty stricken sisters aplenty looking for suitors, but it turned out to be the Mr. Collins of dramas. Helmed by the director of the surprise hit Lost you Forever and aided by a star studded cast, expectations were high, but the budget was just too low. We stay on the same street for 3/4 of the drama with shoddy camera work, the same outfits, and overused sets. Did the cast eat up all the budget? Was it money laundering? Method directing?



The script was not good, the couples weren't shippable, and the acting was knock on wood they've stolen their souls wooden. These are not bad actors. I've seen them shine in other dramas, but I think they were constrained by a lazy script and poor direction. Unless they were directed to act like mannequins, in which case, very convincing. The Mother actress was particularly heinous.


Hilariously, there were 6 actors I spotted from the Double, and a couple of reused costumes too! I didn't like how chunky the show was, with every like 8 episodes dedicated to one of the five sisters.


Prequel (?) Couple: Divorce is sometimes a good option lol


The First Couple: Bland and that man may have issues


Second Couple: Trashcan Man. Maybe this role is why I can't stand the actor.


Third Couple: The only fellow that bothered to act and the best couple... by default


Fourth Couple: Slapstick and violent


Leashan (fourth couple FL) was the most vibrant character, but because of her portrayal by Huangyang Tian Tian, not because of her character... who needs to lay off the violence. Was that supposed to be funny?


Also, there was too much of almost marrying your sibling. And an excessive amount number of times someone fake whispers behind a hand.


Perfect Match is a skip from me. I love the idea of seeing familiar stories adapted or used as inspiration by different cultures to get new perspective. My Dearest, aKorean Gone With the Wind Adaptation, absolutely nailed this. Now maybe PM was just incorrectly marketed, but I think I can see the inspiration of P&P in the foundation, and because I love the source material, I just wanted more from the drama. If you are looking for Jane Austen narrative ancient times, check out: The Story of Ming Lan or New Life Begins. Or just watch a Jane Austen Adaptation.


Side Note: Li Yun Rui plays Tian Tian's dad in this drama, and her love interest in Rebirth... I have no words.


They were in fact NOT excellent boiled potatoes.

Story=1.5, Acting 1, Production Quality=1.25, Rewatch Value=1, Ending=3.25. Enjoyability= 2 (I mean, finished but ffw was involved)



Trailer: (the subs are not in English. My bad)



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