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| Chemistry Concerns and Pacing Problems Plague New Tencent Drama ‘Serendipity’ (Tencent Video/Weibo) |
Since its premiere on 25 April 2025, Tencent Video’s new historical thriller Serendipity (native title: 榜上佳婿) has found itself in a swirl of mixed to negative reviews, despite being based on a widely praised novel.
Starring Wang Ziqi, Lu Yuxiao, and Wang Hongyi, the 40-episode drama promised a compelling tale of mystery, political intrigue, and romance—but many viewers say it has yet to deliver.
Directed by Chan Ka Lam and written by Cheng Ting Yu, Serendipity follows the journey of Jian Ming Shu, a resilient young woman who survives a brutal family massacre only to lose her memory.
As she travels with her protector Lu Chang to the capital for imperial exams, layers of forgotten identity, blooming affection, and shadowy conspiracies unravel.
However, despite the strong source material and a star-studded cast, the series appears to have faltered in its execution.
“Something’s Missing” – Viewers Cite Chemistry and Pacing as Key Flaws
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While a number of fans continue to praise the underlying story and several of the actors’ performances, a louder contingent has voiced concerns over the show’s sluggish pacing and lack of chemistry between the leads. One viewer noted:
“I’m dropping in and out. The pacing is too slow—28 episodes in and they’re still acting like siblings. The side plots drag things out unnecessarily. The prince Rui couple are more interesting to watch.”
Another echoed the sentiment, saying:
“There’s no spark between the male and female leads. They come off more like brother and sister. Oddly enough, the second and even third leads seem to have better chemistry with their counterparts.”
Not All Hope is Lost – Some Viewers Urge Patience
Despite the criticism, not everyone is ready to write the show off just yet.
Some fans have pointed out that the ‘brother-sister’ dynamic is an intentional element of the plot and should not be mistaken for poor acting.
“He’s pretending to be her brother, so naturally they can’t act romantically early on,” one viewer explained. “Let’s judge their chemistry once their feelings become mutual later in the series.”
Others have shared a more moderate view:
“I’m watching it and still enjoying it. The main leads are strong individually, and the drama has a quiet charm. But I do agree the direction may be limiting their ability to show deeper emotional connection.”
A Tale of Direction and Execution?
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Interestingly, many of the criticisms are not directed at the cast themselves but rather at the creative choices behind the scenes.
“This shouldn’t be the actors’ fault,” one netizen wrote.
“They’re following the director and the script. Sometimes chemistry needs more than good actors—it needs room to grow, and the right pace.”
With episodes airing daily on Tencent Video, viewers remain divided—some holding out hope for a satisfying payoff, others having already moved on to the next big drama.
Whether Serendipity can recover its footing and reclaim the promise of its novel origins remains to be seen.
For now, the verdict is as layered as the show’s plot: beautiful on paper, but still searching for its spark on screen.