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| “Sweet but Unfinished” — Fans react to Fated Hearts’ divisive finale (Via: Weibo) |
The historical romance Fated Hearts (一笑随歌), starring Li Qin and Chen Zheyuan, wrapped up on 16 October — but instead of tying everything neatly, it left fans all over social media torn between admiration and frustration.
Some called the finale poetic and heartfelt; others slammed it for leaving the central romance unresolved.
ICYMI: Fated Hearts ending recap & season 2 possibility
A War Won, But at What Cost?
In the final stretch, Feng Suige (Chen Zheyuan) and Fu Yixiao (Li Qin) led their armies to end the brutal war between Susha and Jinxiu, aiming to rescue Feng Suige’s younger sister, Princess Feng Xiyang (Xia Meng).
The princess had become a tragic pawn after marrying Xia Jingshi (Chen Heyi), a man she once loved but who later betrayed her.
After losing her family, Xiyang’s grief turned into vengeance.
She got caught up with Emperor Xia Jingyan (Qin Tianyu), but chaos took over when Xia Jingshi — consumed by jealousy — murdered the emperor and attacked her.
Just as tragedy seemed inevitable, Feng Suige struck him down in a climactic battle that sealed both kingdoms’ fates.
But victory didn’t come with glory.
Refusing to claim the throne, Feng Suige chose a quieter life — supporting his sister’s rise as queen before retreating to the mountains with Fu Yixiao.
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| Fated Hearts’ Douban rating down after disappointing finale. |
The Sunset Scene That Broke (and Melted) Hearts
The finale’s closing moment showed Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao watching the sunset, wrapped in each other’s arms. Feng Suige promised:
“After three years of mourning, I will give you the grandest wedding under heaven.”
It was tender and symbolic, but for many fans, painfully incomplete. The long-hyped royal wedding never appeared, leaving audiences feeling robbed of closure.
“Beautiful but unfinished,” wrote one viewer on Weibo. “It’s like they stopped right before the happy ending.”
Others criticised how the last episodes seemed more focused on secondary storylines than the main romance, saying it weakened the emotional payoff.
Why Some Fans Still Loved It
Not everyone felt disappointed, though.
Supporters defended the open ending, praising its message about choosing freedom over duty.
“It’s not about the missing wedding,” one Douban user commented.
“It’s about walking away from the crown — from the endless cycle of ambition and loss.”
This interpretation struck a chord with viewers who saw Fated Hearts as a story about peace and healing rather than mere romantic fulfilment.
The Debate That Won’t Die
Whether fans saw it as poetic restraint or emotional sabotage, the finale clearly left an impression.
The hashtag #一笑随歌大结局 (“#FatedHeartsFinale”) stayed on Weibo’s trending list for hours, with thousands debating the director’s choice.
In the end, Fated Hearts didn’t just tell a love story — it sparked one of the most passionate finale debates of the year, proving that sometimes the best endings are the ones that leave you wanting just a little more.