Synopsis and Information
- Genre: Romance, Historical
- Episodes: 36
- Episodes Length: 45 minutes
- Where to watch: Mango TV, Netflix
Perfect Match (Chinese title: 五福临门) is a 2025 Chinese drama produced by the renowned Yu Zheng, featuring five main couples: Wang Xing Yue & Lu Yu Xiao, Liu Yue Ning & Chen He Yi, Wu Xuan Yi & Huang Sheng Chi, Ke Ying & Liang Yong Qi, and Huangyang Tian Tian & Winwin. The drama is best enjoyed by following each couple’s story individually, as it essentially presents five standalone romances. For most of the sisters’ storylines, you don’t need to watch the entire series to understand their journeys.
Synopsis: In the bustling capital during the Northern Song Dynasty, Madam Li moves her family in search of better marriage prospects for her four beautiful but quirky daughters, whose love lives have long been her worry. Each daughter, though famous for her beauty and wit, comes with unique quirks: the eldest, Shou Hua, has no interest in remarrying after early widowhood; the third, Kang Ning, is fierce and headstrong; the fourth, Hao De, is well-meaning but blunt; and the youngest, Le Shan, is spoiled and selective. Challenges abound as they face unexpected setbacks, including a cold reception from the already-married sister they came to visit. As the family reestablishes their business, they navigate a series of humorous and heartwarming misadventures, ultimately finding love and fulfilling their mother’s hopes in this lively tale of family and romance.
Story 1: Chai An and Kang Ning
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| Wang Xing Yue & Lu Yu Xiao | Episode 1-10 |
Synopsis: New to the city, Kang Ning uses her wit to help her sister, Fu Hui, gain the upper hand in her marriage to the softhearted and indecisive Fan Liang Han. Meanwhile, Fan Liang Han’s cousin, Chai An, supports him in maintaining his authority as the husband. When the Li family opens a restaurant across from Chai An’s, their rivalry extends into business. However, as Kang Ning and Chai An clash, his admiration for her fierce and headstrong nature gradually turns into something more.
Story 2: Du Yang Xi and Shou Hua
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| Liu Yue Ning & Chen He Yi | Episode 11-19 |
Synopsis: Du Yang Xi, a poor scholar preparing for the imperial exam, is rescued alongside Sang Yan Rang by Shou Hua and taken to the Li residence to recover. Madame Li sees potential in the two scholars and considers marrying her daughter Kang Ning to Du Yang Xi. However, with Kang Ning in love with Chai An, the widowed Shou Hua steps in and marries Du Yang Xi after he becomes the top scholar. Though initially resentful of the arranged match, Du Yang Xi gradually falls for the kind and intelligent Shou Hua. But as his past resurfaces, he is forced to make difficult sacrifices.
Note: Episode 7 starts the story of Du Yang Xi getting affiliated with the Li family, but his story with Shou Hua starts in episode 11.
Story 3: Shen Hui Zhao and Hao De
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| Ke Ying & Liang Yong Qi | Episode 20-28 |
Synopsis: Hoping to find a wife for the cold and distant judge Shen Hui Zhao, his family arranges a marriage with Hao De while he is away. Upon his return, he apologizes and offers compensation, but Hao De refuses to back out. They compromise on a one-year marriage contract. However, an accident leaves Shen Hui Zhao with memory loss. Rather than taking advantage of the situation, Hao De remains honest, helping him conceal his condition and assist with court cases. Through her unwavering support, she gradually wins his heart.
Story 4: Yang Xian and Le Shan
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| Winwin & Huangyang Tian Tian | Episode 29-36 |
Synopsis: Yang Xian and Le Shan share a complicated past—she once humiliated him (episode 3), he attempted to marry Kang Ning (episode 4), and he once saved Hao De (episode 25). On Le Shan’s wedding day to He Guang Yuan, Yang Xian, also leading his bride home, orchestrates chaos in the streets and swaps brides. In the bridal chamber, a furious Le Shan attacks him and tries to return to her family, but the Emperor recognizes their marriage. Left with no choice, she agrees to stay, challenging Yang Xian to complete three tasks before she fully accepts him as her husband.
Drama Review
★★★☆☆ Rating: 3/5
I think this will be a short and sweet mini review. I gave this drama a three mainly because I viewed it as separate stories rather than a whole. Each story was enjoyable on its own and didn’t drag on too long. While the plots weren’t particularly unique, the non-romance elements lacked depth, and the love stories weren’t heartbreakingly beautiful, each couple still delivered a solid and distinct romance.
One aspect I disliked—both overall and within each story—was the “protagonist halo” that overly glorified the female lead, along with the heavy-handed female aggressiveness. These elements made the viewing experience feel jarring at times. That said, a highlight of the drama was how, despite the sisters sharing beauty, intelligence, and a similar mindset, each had a unique personality. This made the story feel refreshing as it progressed.
My favorite story was probably the third one, featuring Hao De and Shen Hui Zhao. Even though it followed the familiar trope of a cold male lead and memory loss, I appreciated the significant growth in both characters, individually and as a couple. As the second youngest daughter, Hao De had been pampered by her sisters, which made her initial immaturity in her relationship with Shen Hui Zhao feel fitting. However, with their support and her determination to win him over, she learned and adapted in ways she never would have while still living with her family.
My second favorite was the final story of Yang Xian and Le Shan. Again, this couple had some of the most personal growth—featuring a spoiled youngest daughter and a privileged rich man who, while inherently good, had been led astray by his unloving family. What I didn’t like about this storyline was the excessive physical aggression from Le Shan, which was treated as acceptable, and the scheming uncle subplot, which wasn’t particularly interesting to watch.
I think I would have enjoyed Shao Hua’s story more if not for Du Yang Xi’s arc and how the show handled the double standards between the Li and Du families. If that portion had been written better, I think I would have appreciated the sweet and gentle love story more. Shao Hua stood out from her sisters in that she relied on her intellect rather than being assertive, which could have made for a unique dynamic.
Chai An and Kang Ning’s story was probably the most boring for me. The “two intelligent protagonists going head-to-head” trope has been overdone, but the real issue here was the execution. The writing didn’t do enough to showcase their supposed intelligence, making it difficult to fully believe in or connect with their characters. On top of that, they had the least growth, both individually and in their romance, which made their story feel underwhelming.
There were also side romances, such as Fu Hua and Fan Liang Han, as well as Zhe Cong and Qiongnu. While their love stories were included, there wasn’t enough depth to truly explore their relationships.
One thing I did appreciate was that there wasn’t just one or two main couples dominating the story. Given the number of episodes, that would have made the drama feel unnecessarily long, and I probably would have dropped it early on. Knowing that a new romance arc would begin every 10 episodes made it easier to stay engaged. So, I highly recommend watching it in parts—if one sister’s story doesn’t appeal to you, you can always skip ahead to the next one. Also, if you like happy endings and seeing doting male leads who submits to their partners, this one will be your cup of tea!
Despite its flaws, Perfect Match offers a light and entertaining watch with a diverse set of romance stories. If you’re looking for a drama where you can pick and choose which relationships to invest in, this one might be worth a try.
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