A Perfect Match – Series Review & Episode Guide

Tian Xiang lives with his grandmother. Despite her age and declining health, she works as a cleaner to support their family financially. Tian Xiang is determined to find a stable job, allowing his grandmother to finally retire and rest. Recently, he secured an interview with Wensen Company, a well-known cosmetics brand. Tian Xiang is eager for the opportunity, especially since the company has a renowned tennis team. As a tennis enthusiast, Tian Xiang believes he's the perfect match for the business and its culture.

On his way to the interview, Tian Xiang witnesses a young girl nearly get hit by a motorcycle while crossing the street. Although she's unharmed, the shock leaves her traumatized. The child, Xian Ruo, stops in the middle of the road and cries about wanting her older brother. Worried about her well-being, Tian Xiang checks up on her. He takes Xian Ruo to a nearby police officer, who insists he stay and file a report. Reluctantly, Tian Xiang complies, knowing it means missing his important interview.

After filing the report, Tian Xiang rushes to Wensen Company for his interview. However, he arrives late. His potential employer, Xiao Nan, is a strict and disciplined businessman. Punctuality is essential for this organization, and being late automatically disqualifies Tian Xiang from the position. Tian Xiang tries to explain, but Xiao Nan refuses to hear excuses. Later, Tian Xiang turns to his friend, Qian Qian, for consolation. Qian Qian comforts him, saying she has heard scandalous rumours about Xiao Nan's family. Both his parents died in an accident.

Tian Xiang heads to the gym after his failed interview, hoping to clear his mind. He catches his boyfriend, Wei Xiong, flirting with another woman. Tian Xiang accuses him of being unfaithful. Wei Xiong dismisses his concerns. He explains that the woman, Li Na, is his boss's daughter. Their interaction was business pleasantries. As the argument escalates, Wei Xiong loses patience. When Tian Xiang asks for forgiveness, Wei Xiong breaks up with him. He'd rather pursue Li Na, who, at the very least, is rich. A heartbroken Tian Xiang is left reeling as he gets dumped.

Xiao Nan receives a call from the police station about his sister, Xian Ruo. The officer tells him about Tian Xiang, the kind-hearted stranger who saved her. Xiao Nan recognizes the name, which matches the job applicant he had rejected earlier. Feeling guilty for his harsh judgment, Xiao Nan reaches out to Tian Xiang. He thanks him for helping Xian Ruo, understands the circumstances, and decides to give him another interview. He also invites Tian Xiang to his home to meet his sister. As the two spend more time together, they grow closer even outside the workplace.

A Perfect Match starts with the protagonist lying in bed, half-naked, as the camera lingers on his pecs and abs. Next, he steps into the shower, and there are close-up shots of him rubbing soap over his muscles. Even by BL standards, this level of fan service is shameless. Did it work on me? Absolutely! The series makes a strong first impression simply by having the lead flaunt his toned body. For those who love eye candy, you'll be happy to know the cast shows off their physiques in many episodes.

The main appeal of A Perfect Match comes from the fact that it's so bad, it's good. This terribly cliched series falls into the guilty pleasure category. In the second episode, Tian Xiang argues with his boyfriend. Their confrontation is hilariously camp with over-the-top melodrama, Tian Xiang's awful acting, and the absurd moment where he apologizes by going down on his boyfriend in the shower. OMG, I burst out laughing at the ridiculous antics! There are other unintentionally funny scenes stemming from dumb nonsense or overused tropes. A Perfect Match may entertain you because it's like a parody of BL.

Tian Xiang and Xiao Nan clash over a job interview. Soon, they move past their misunderstanding and grow close. While the relationship journey may be predictable, their scenes together are charming. The series captures the couple's sweetness, especially when they are around Xiao Nan's little sister. She teases her brother in front of his crush, creating a warm and playful atmosphere. However, the story suffers from annoying conflicts. Whenever the manipulative ex shows up, he disrupts the easygoing vibes. His meddling sours my opinion of the romance.

Both leads are hunky. But let's be honest, they weren't cast for their acting skills. While Tian Xiang's performer (Chuck Yu) is okay in lighthearted moments, he can't emote well. His co-star (Ricky Liu) has the same issue. The dramatic material challenges them, making their delivery feel amateurish. Their physical intimacy is also disappointing. The couple has only one sex scene, and it looks awkward. They fumble in bed, mashing their mouths together without any real passion. Since the plot is lacklustre, I had hoped the BL content would compensate. Sadly, it did not.

Most of the story focuses on typical relationship drama, but there's also a minor subplot about tennis. Tian Xiang and Xiao Nan compete in a random tournament, although the matches seem boring. This is not Challengers by Luca Guadagnino. It's the low-budget BL version, where the games are filmed with basic cinematography and little excitement. I have no interest in tennis, so watching a poorly shot version of it is even worse. Generally, the production values in A Perfect Match look okay. The visuals are serviceable but somewhat unremarkable.

I treat A Perfect Match as a guilty pleasure, giggling at the cliched plots or silly moments. This series is more enjoyable when I don't take anything seriously. However, the last few episodes sucked. The ex-boyfriend's storyline becomes too frustrating, and I can't find the humour in it anymore. Instead of feeling amused, I'm annoyed with the couple's conflict over a misunderstanding. The problem with a guilty pleasure is that it quickly crosses into displeasure. A Perfect Match swings that way for me toward the end, leaving me with an unflattering opinion of it.