Fated Hearts

Presentation

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Overview

Synopsis

On the battlefield, Fu Yixiao, a general from Jinxiu, shoots an arrow at Susha’s general, Feng Suige. Later on, they cross paths again, but Fu Yixiao has lost all her memories.

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

Fated Hearts is such an excellent C-Drama! There’s absolutely nothing negative to say about that show. The plot is fast-paced without a single boring episode. There’s action in every scene and countless twists that keep fully you immersed in the story. Character-wise, I love how every one of them has a purpose – a red thread that justifies their actions and makes you understand why they behave the way they do. My favorite character arc is Feng Xiyang’s (Feng Suige’s sister), whose fate was such a roller coaster of emotions. To me, one element connects all of these characters: revenge. It lies at the core of the drama and is the root cause of every event that unfolds. As for the romance between the leads, I was more than thrilled to see them embody the enemies-to-lovers trope to perfection. There are also so many cute kissing scenes that gave me butterflies. If you like badass characters and politics- or war-related dramas, then this one’s for you!

Analysis

• Political context
  Susha
  Jinxiu
  Pingling
• Understandable characters
  Feng Suige
  Fu Yixiao
  Feng Xiyang
  Xia Jingshi
  Feng Ping Cheng
  Murong Yao
  Minister Zhuang
• Romances
• Fate
• Revenges intertwined
• The bond between siblings
• The ending
• Ambiance

Political context: Fated Hearts is set in a fictional world where two Empires, Susha and Jinxiu, have been at war for years. The majority of the intrigue takes place in Susha, but shifts to Jinxiu towards the end. At the border stands Pingling, the battlefield that fosters the animosity and encounter between the leads.

Susha: Emperor Feng Ping Cheng (Zhao Bin) and the court reside in Susha’s capital, Yujing. Despite its apparent harmony, the royal family is plagued by internal conflicts that shake power dynamics. This is the result of the Emperor’s remarriage that propelled the Zhuang family at the top of the hierarchy. Feng Ping Cheng was first married to Wei Qing Yu (Du Yu Chen) who gave him two children: Feng Suige (Chen Zhe Yuan) and Feng Xiyang (Xia Meng). She was allegedly killed by Minister Zhuang (Eddie Cheung) who wished to replace her with his daughter, the future Empress Zhuang (Xu Xiao Sa). Since the tragic death of his mother, Feng Suige has been wary of the Zhuang Family and estranged with his father. He resented him greatly for not investigating her death. From his second union with Empress Zhuang, Feng Ping Chang was blessed with another son, Feng Chengyang (Ding Jia Wen), whose family is trying to make Crown Prince. To do so, they work hard to get rid of the legitimate heir, Feng Suige, leading to a series of conspiracies.

Jinxiu: Jinxiu, and more precisely the capital Shenjiang, is also the theater of internal conflicts and power struggles. The current Emperor, Xiao Jing Yan (Qin Tian Yu), is known for his debauchery and cruelty. He’s the legitimate heir to the throne and unique son of the controlling Empress Dowager. Jing Yan has a brother named Xia Jingshi (Chen He Yi) who’s the illegitimate child of a concubine. Since his early childhood, he’s been humiliated by his brother and used as a pawn by his stepmother. Nevertheless, Jingshi is more clever and capable than his brother. He’s a general who has all the qualities to be an Emperor, except the lineage. Moved by his thirst for revenge and desire for the throne, Xia Jingshi triggers a series of tragedies at the end of the drama.

Pingling: There’s not a lot that takes place in that city, apart from the opening war that opposes our leads. However, this is where fate comes into motion and the game changes for all characters.

Understandable characters: Characters in the drama are extremely well-written. They all have their own red thread which justifies their actions and motivations. To me, this is the greatest strength of the show. I was unable to resent characters because I could understand where they were coming from. Ultimately, it all seemed like their fate was already written and that their choices were the result of their unavoidable destiny.

Feng Suige: Described as the First Prince of Susha and the God of War, Feng Suige is a clever man who’s learned to play the political game early on. He’s a born strategist, considered as cruel and ruthless by his enemies. But he’s actually the best epitome of a ruler and a general. He knows how to discipline, but can also show kindness and benevolence when need be. His men and the people are his priorities. So, he refuses to become Crown Prince at the cost of innocent lives. Actually, he couldn’t care less about the throne. Though is father is hell-bent on making him his heir, Feng Suige’s only desire is to avenge his mother who was wrongfully killed. If his brother or sister wants the throne, he’d gladly let them. He’s also very close to his siblings, especially his biological sister, whom he considers the apple of his eye. Feng Suige is a man of honor and principles, he never goes back on his words and pays his debts, whether positive or negative. He’d go to great lengths to protect his loved ones, though many end up betraying him in the show (his best friend, his uncle and even his own father). Yet, he confronts these challenges with dignity and resolve. Finally, Feng Suige is profoundly devoted to Fu Yixiao (Li Qin), his equal in all aspects.

Fu Yixiao: The Red-Clad General of Jinxiu is the female equivalent of Feng Suige. She’s upright, clever, and honest. Like her lover, she’s betrayed by her closest ones (Xia Jingshi and Weiran), but accepts it, gets her revenge and moves on from her past. As a child, she was raised in the death camp where she was tortured and trained to become an assassin. Her only dream was to get out of this prison and kill the person responsible for her suffering. She and her two brothers were rescued by Xia Jingshi who then became her lover. When she discovered that he was plotting with the enemy and risking the lives of many innocent, she tried to stop him. But he shot her, making her fall from a cliff, lose all of her memories before being miraculously saved by Feng Suige. The latter sheltered her, hoping to use her at first, but then fell in love with this impressive woman. When Fu Yixiao finally regained her memory, she chose to side with her lover – the only person who’d never betray her. Once she’s made her decision, Fu Yixiao remains loyal and devoted to him, his cause and her principles. Amnesia, disability, betrayal, nothing makes her stray away from who she is and what she believes in. At some point, she’s also compared to Feng Suige’s mother, as their personalities are quite similar. They’re both women of honor, have values and beliefs, fight for what is fair, and care about the people and peace.

Feng Xiyang: I adored Feng Xiyang! She had the best character evolution in the drama. At the beginning, she’s a capricious, spoiled and naive young teenager, who’s completely disconnected from the real world and its dangers. She hasn’t been exposed to real human nature, and thus has never experienced hatred, revenge, or betrayal. However, Xiyang has many qualities that make her grow into a mature and strong woman. She’s stubborn and determined. Once she’s made up her mind, nothing can change her decision. At first, she devotes herself to her first love Xia Jingshi, but pays the consequences of her blind love and trust. She then tries to survive in Jinxiu and gets closer to Xia Jingyan. Though he falls for her, she only considers their relationship as a transaction, not real love. What I liked about Xiyang is that she chooses her fate and assumes the consequences. Everything that unfolds is the result of her choices, like her marriage to Xia Jingshi, her escaping to Jinxiu, her pregnancy with Xia Jingyan’s child and even her almost death at the end. All of these events forge her into a resilient woman, who knows who she is, what she wants and has experienced life the hard way. This also enables her to understand the true meaning of love, as she’s loved someone unconditionally and was loved the same way. Her stories ended badly, but she’s now acquired the knowledge and skills to lead and survive.

Xia Jingshi: Xia Jingshi’s childhood was atrocious, as his family would humiliate and torture him. This nurtured his desire for revenge. He also developed an obsession for the throne, thinking that it would make everything right. Though his plan is based on a legit argument that his brother is not fit to be Emperor, Xia Jingshi’s methods are unacceptable. To achieve his goals, he’s willing to sacrifice not only his people, but also those he loves the most (his brothers and Fu Yixiao). His purpose becomes tainted by his thirst for revenge and power, making him lose everything that is dear to him in the process (aka Fu Yixiao). I felt empathetic towards him at first. Though his reasoning for rebellion was valid, he lost himself along the way. His attempt to kill Fu Yixiao was the trigger that pushed him onto the path of no return. In the end, he just became yet another despicable villain.

Feng Ping Cheng: The Emperor of Susha is a complex character who used to be good and upright, but was corrupted by power. After his rise to the throne, he became obsessed with it. He wanted to control everything and everyone, including his children’s fate. But his wife was firmly against it. She saw the consequences of power on her husband and refused to put her children through that. So, she threatened to leave with them if Feng Ping Cheng didn’t renounce his desire to make Feng Suige the Crown Prince. Contrary to him, Wei Qing Yu wanted her children to choose their fate on their own. In the end, her free-spirited and obtuse personality led to her death. She was killed at the hands of Minister Zhuang in front of Feng Ping Cheng, who didn’t do anything to prevent the catastrophe. Later on, the Emperor made his son go through many ordeals to prepare him for the throne. What he never would’ve expected is that Feng Suige doesn’t care about it at all. He’s not ambitious and just aspires to a peaceful life with his lover. This clash, topped with the truth regarding his mother’s death, inevitably led to a fallout between father and son.

Murong Yao: Murong Yao (Zuo Ye) is Feng Suige’s best friend. Though he pretends to be harmless, he’s actually a sneaky individual who wants to get his revenge on Feng Suige. When they were children, he and Suige escaped the military camp. They were found by the enemy and almost died at their hands. But Yao’s father, a respected general, came to the rescue. He chose to save the Prince over his own son. His duty and loyalty to the Emperor resulted in a series of sacrifices that Murong Yao could not accept. Since then, he’s colluded with the enemy in order to take Feng Suige and the Emperor down. But there are flaws in his plan. First, he’s targeting the wrong person. Feng Suige never asked to be saved and was not even aware that Yao had been hurt in the process. Second, Murong Yao wants to play the bad guy, but his bond with Feng Suige is strong which makes him regret his choices. Even when he allegedly kills him, he’s devoured by guilt. Third, his plan simply backfires because of his negligence. He tries to kill Suige, but fails causing the death of his precious father and his own. Murong Yao is a pathetic character whose anger was misplaced and revenge poorly executed.

Minister Zhuang: I think we can draw a parallel between Minister Zhuang and Yao’s father. He too used to be dutiful and upright, but everything changed with the death of his son. The latter tried to raise a private army and was punished for treason by the Emperor himself. Though the death and punishment are understandable and justified, Zhuang just couldn’t accept the loss of his one and only son and thus turned his back on the Emperor. His desire for revenge manifests by killing the Empress, then pushing his daughter onto the throne and then his grandson to become Crown Prince. He also schemes to get rid of Feng Suige, but he pays the consequences of his actions. As if karma had a role to play in it. Minister Zhuang sacrificed many innocent people to avenge his son, so he was punished for it.

Romances: The main romance is that of Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao. They are the best epitome of the ‘enemies-to-lovers’ trope. They hate each other so much at first, following the lex talionis (‘an eye for an eye’). When she punches, he gives it back. When he bites, she bites harder. However, their relationship slowly turns into a real bond based on trust. Both have been betrayed by their closest ones and share a common vision of the future. They are upright and refuse to sacrifice the people for their own interests. As their purposes align, they decide to work hand in hand. They become real allies, but more importantly lovers. They were so many kisses between these two, I was so glad! Plus, I really appreciated that Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao were considered equals. Both are renowned generals, clever strategists and excellent leaders. When Feng Suige declared that Fu Yixiao had the same status as him in his absence, my heart skipped a beat. Although I loved the main romance, I have to say that I was more captivated by Xiyang’s love life. She went from being in a one-sided relationship with Xia Jingshi to turning his back on him out of spite and siding with his brother. I was definitely not expecting Xia Jingyan to develop unreciprocated feelings for Xiyang, yet their story was so compelling. He never felt useful to anyone but her, she softened him and appeased his anger. He fell so hard for her that he was willing to beg for her life which he’d never do even for his own. Xia Jingyan expressed his feelings for Xiyang until the end. Though their love story was tragic – and impossible – I was really drawn to it.

Fate: Like the title ‘Fated Hearts‘ mentions it, I couldn’t help but feel as if fate played a big role in the drama. The Emperor of Susha also repeatedly emphasized that this was ‘his/her fate’ when one of his subjects had to die. That being said, I think we can even use Fu Yixiao and Feng Suige’s first encounter as a sign of fate. As enemies on the battlefield, Yixiao pierced Feng Suige’s chest with her arrow. Though she aimed at killing him, she actually saved his life. Indeed, if Feng Suige had penetrated into Pingling, he would’ve fallen into a trap. Yixiao’s attempt to kill him can be perceived a twist of fate that entangled their lives (and that of their surroundings) for good. On a side note, the drama also gives the impression that you can’t really fight against your destiny. What is bound to happen will happen – like Xiyang’s departure for Jinxiu – and can’t be stopped. You just need to accept it and make the best out of it.

Revenges intertwined: The whole drama is about revenge. This is what keeps characters going. Feng Suige wants revenge for his mother, then for his sister. Fu Yixiao wants revenge for herself and then for Feng Suige. Feng Xiyang wants to avenge her fallen brother when she thinks him dead and get her revenge on Xia Jingshi for neglecting her. Xia Jingshi wants to kill his brother and seize the throne as a response to all his years of humiliation and suffering. Minister Zhuang wants to avenge his son who was killed by the Emperor as an example, while Murong Yao wants to get even with Feng Suige and the Emperor for forcing his father to prioritize his duty over his family. Even Xia Jingyan wants to kill his brother who made him feel inferior, useless and not needed. The Emperor wants revenge on his wife for not submitting to him as a subject, etc… All of these revenges are intricately intertwined which creates a vast web of outcomes. Characters also find a new revenge to fulfill once their main one is done.

The bond between siblings: Unlike many other dramas, Fated Hearts portrays siblings who are united under (almost) all circumstances. In Susha, Suige, Xiyang and Chenyang stand strong and look for the truth together. Suige and Chenyang don’t care about the throne, they’re more interested in setting things right. When Xiyang decides to leave Susha with Xia Jingshi or when she announces she’s pregnant with Xia Jingyan’s child, Feng Suige embraces her. He’s his forever support and always prioritizes the well-being of his family. There’s another sibling-like bond in the drama worth mentioning. Fu Yixiao, Ning Fei and Xiao Weiran were orphans who survived the death camp. They grew up together, went to war and experienced many battles. They were the glorious generals of Jinxiu and considered each other as family. Unfortunately, duty got in the way creating a fallout. Though Fu Yixiao and Ning Fei refused to entrust their lives into Xia Jingshi’s hands, Weiran continued his journey with him. He betrayed his family and principles in the name of his master’s revenge. This cost him his life and the bond was severed with his siblings by taking his life.

The ending: At the end of the drama, Feng Suige has given the throne to his sister Xiyang. She’s now found a new purpose. Feng Suige has settled down with Fu Yixiao and started his 3-year mourning period following the death of his father. Once that period ends, he intends on checking with Xiyang if she wants to remain Empress or not. This is quite heartwarming because that’s exactly what their mother wanted for her children. She wished for them to decide how they want to live their lives. Feng Chenyang has left with his mother away from political affairs after her downfall. Xia Xingshi has been killed by Yixiao and Suige and another Emperor has rosen in Jinxiu. He and Feng Suige agreed to be at peace for 10 years before renegotiating the treaty. Though it felt a bit rushed (as usual in C-Dramas I want to say), the ending was quite satisfying.

Ambiance: The drama is action-packed and full of amazing twists. But what I loved the most is its feminist vibe. The show portrays free heroines who go to war or become Empress, are skilled doctors or talented physicians. They all fight hard to choose their own destiny and that’s extremely inspirational!