Princess Changge (2021)

The Long Ballad is an EPIC and ARTISTIC tale of growth and finding one's own path.

The Long Ballad is by far the best Chinese drama I have ever watched. It has everything I could hope for in a good drama, and had even went beyond my expectations.

The actors and actresses were well chosen and were literally made for their roles. There wasn't a single person who I felt could've been played by another actor/actress. The characterization of every character is exceptional, and each character have their own flaws and strengths making them very 3 dimensional and well written. In a way, I found myself unable to truly hate anyone in the drama, even the villains themselves. Each character has a back story or reason as to why they chose the path that they did. The pacing was, and there wasn't a single filler episode. I felt like the last episode was a bit rushed, but I will be discussing that later on.

I have been a long time fan of Dilireba, and this role is her best one yet. She has truly improved from her past dramas and had brought Li Chang Ge to life. Chang Ge is a character that I adore greatly and will forever remain as one of my most favorite female leads. Her journey to find her Tao is so touching, and inspirational that it had made me feel for her so much, as well as wanting to find my own Tao. The people she encounters on her journey all played a purpose in helping her find her Tao. Each one taught her something different that she could look back and learn from. Raba's acting as Chang Ge was so amazing, and I absolutely loved her crying scenes. Episodes 14 and 15 especially were her greatest performances throughout the drama in my opinion. Those were also the saddest episodes and had literally left me with no tears left to cry.

Wu Lei as Ashile Sun, is the best choice anyone can make in finding an actor to perfectly portray this amazing character. Despite the doubts surrounding his ability to play such a manly and fierce character because of his age and appearance, Wu Lei had definitely proven to the world that he was born to act. The way he portrays his emotions even just by his eyes is such a sight to see, he really knows how to bring Ashile Sun's character to life and make us all fall in love with him. This character is definitely my most favorite male lead out of all the dramas I have ever watched. The most memorable scenes of Wu Lei's performance for me would have to be the scene where he drank the wine after deciding to let Chang Ge stay with the Wolf Division, along with the scene where he got on his knees for his mother. Both scenes included so much emotion and heartbreak despite having very little words uttered. Wu Lei had portrayed them exceptionally, and might I say even better than some veteran actors could've. This MAN is really going far in his career.

Next up is Liu Yuning as Hao Du. I like him a lot and his acting is great, although I can't say the same for his character. I was truly not fond of Hao Du at first and even hated him at one point for his obsession with killing Chang Ge. But, as the drama went on, Yuning's portrayal of Hao Du was so good that I ended up falling for him and all his flaws as well. Liu Yuning brings a touch of vulnerability in Hao Du by just the emotion in his eyes. His struggle in trying to do the right thing by his heart versus wanting to not disappoint his father, was so wonderfully portrayed by Yuning. His love for Leyan is also so pure that I want to protect him from the heartbreak I knew he was bound to face. A plot whole that I found was how and when Hao Du had fallen for Leyan. It felt as if he had fallen for her out of nowhere. One moment he was obsessed with Chang Ge and the next he was traveling day and night to find Leyan. Where did his love start? How did it start?

Then we have our second female lead, Zhao Lusi as Leyan. I like her. Although I do wish that her character wasn't written in as it adds nothing to the main plot, and takes away parts of Chang Ge's story from the manhua, it wasn't all too bad. Her type of character is typically the type that I hate in dramas. I prefer the strong badass lead like Chang Ge. However, Zhao Lusi's portrayal of Leyan was pretty good. I enjoyed her character growth although it was predictable and followed typical drama cliches. The way that she went from a timid and naive princess into a strong-willed and capable one who cares for her people was so portrayed pretty well, however. Although she can't fight or can plan out battle strategies like Chang Ge, her own strengths was still able to make her stand out as a character. I liked her compassion for others, and genuinely kind heart that had eventually warmed the hearts of everyone she encounters. Zhao Lusi like everyone else was perfect for her role, and I enjoyed watching her.

Lastly, we have Alen Fang as Wei Shuyu. No joke, I literally almost forgot about his character while writing this review. I only remembered once I had neared the end LOL. No hate to the actor, because I loved his acting and portrayal of the character with what he was given. The character itself was pretty much useless for most of the drama. I felt like while everyone was contributing to the plot and had character growth, Shuyu was just there and remained the same throughout. He did have some character growth towards the end tho, and eventually realized the mistakes in his past choices. But besides that, that was pretty much it. I appreciate Alen Fang, and wished he would've gotten the chance to show more of his ability.

Okay, now let me talk about GeSun and their dynamic which is one of the most healthiest relationships I have ever seen portrayed in a drama. They both love and respect each other, and instead of holding each other back, they support and understand one another's goals and path. They see each other as equals and would do anything to protect each other even at the cost of their own lives. There is no toxicity, roundabout misunderstanding, jealous second leads that make you want to rip your hair out, or the typical noble idiocy trope that most dramas love doing. This is a mature relationship that makes you route for the more you see them interact and fall for each other. It's a slow burn romance that allows you to understand from both leads' perspectives and how they grew to respect and fall for one another. It's the type of love that doesn't need kissing or make out scenes to see the yearning, love, and care that the two leads have for each other. (Even though I say this, I'm still mad that there was not a single kiss scene for our main couple :,() Wu Lei and Dilireba's chemistry was off the charts both on screen and off screen! I loved their dynamic and how well they get along with each other. Wu Lei is my most favorite Male Lead for Raba and I love how gentlemanly and protective he is towards her in real life. He just seems to match her energy and quirkiness and adds in some of his own that most of her past co-stars weren't able to do. Not only is he an amazing actor, he is also a genuinely great person from what I've seen! I really hope I will be able to see these two reunite in another drama one day :,)

Now we have HaoYan, the typical cold bodyguard falls for cute, innocent princess trope. Despite the few plot holes and clicheness of it all, I still enjoyed this couple. They also had great chemistry from the little interactions they had and are visually attractive together. I understand that the writers were trying to show Leyan coming to a realization that the person she truly loves, the one who had always been there for her and protected her was Hao Du. However, the execution of it all was lacking and seemed as if she had just fallen for Hao Du when she couldn't have Shuyu. Up until the duel for her hand in marriage, Leyan was still hoping for Shuyu to step up and fight for her. Not once did she think of Hao Du. Because of this, it made it seem as if he was just a second option to her. After they got together though, despite the ambiguity of it all, the two were a sweet and adorable pair. What I also liked, was how selfless Hao Du was in his love. He was willing to do anything for Leyan's happiness even at the cost of his own. The scene where he was willing to fight for her despite knowing that she might not return his affections was just so touching and beautiful, and perfectly conveys his love for her.

And of course we have Mujin and Mimi, our tragic lovebirds. I absolutely loved these two as a couple and was really hoping for their happy ending. But if one of our couples were going to have a tragic ending, I'd prefer it to be them instead of our two main couples... okay maybe I might think about sacrificing Haoyan's happy ending for Mijin's lol. Mujin and Mimi also had great chemistry and I adored the love that they had which had surpassed Mimi's hate for the Ashile Tribe. Their build up from enemies to lovers was great and I enjoyed their constant bickering. Honestly speaking tho, if someone close to Chang Ge was supposed to die, I'd prefer it to be Wei Shuyu instead of Mimi. Again, no hate to the actor, it's just he really in my opinion didn't provide anything to the plot, and I wouldn't have been as sad to see him go. I also felt like his death would've created a bigger impact for his character. However, that is also just my opinion.

Another couple were my two awkward puppies, Xu Feng and Shiba. These two are downright ADORABLE and I loved all their scenes together. Their interactions were small but also sweet and lovely.

Not only were the romantic relationships amazingly portrayed, there were other relationships on the drama that were just as complex and touching. There was Chang Ge's love/hate relationship with her uncle and his unconditional love for her. Chang Ge's mentorship with A'duo who became a little brother figure to her. Leyan's sibling relationship with with Xiao Wu, and her sisterhood with the clothing ladies. Ashile Sun's brotherhood with the precious boys of his Eagle Division. The complex brotherhood between Ashile Sun and She'er. Chang Ge's friendship with Mimi. Another one that I absolutely adored was little Yuan's adoration for Sun and Chang Ge.

The soundtrack also plays a huge role in the extraordinariness of this drama. Every song has been on my playlist on repeat since they have been released. I don't think there was ever a drama where I absolutely enjoyed every single song. And when I say I love the soundtrack, I mean it. I played it in the shower, on my car drives, I set it as my ringtone, and alarm... I was literally obsessed haha. The bgm was no joke either. It was so epic and moving and were weaved very beautifully into the scenes. I loved every single one and had also added them to my playlist :)

The wardrobe was beautiful, especially Ashile Sun's luscious and gorgeous long, wavy hair. Cinematography was also amazing. One of my favorite scenes would have to be the scene where Chang Ge walks out of the gates to meet Ashlie Sun for the first time. The music just made the scene so epic yet melancholic at the same time. The fight scenes were beautifully executed, along with the cuju match from episode 1. The animations were a cool addition to the drama, although some parts were a bit funny and awkward to watch.

The only thing I was a bit disappointed by was the last episode. I kinda expected something a bit more epic? The final scene of Chang Ge and Ashile Sun would've been satisfactory if only they hadn't spoiled it earlier on. With the epic ness of this drama, I just felt like it was a bit underwhelming. Also towards the last few episodes, Chang Ge and A'Sun were separated until the last two, which broke my heart cause I was really hoping for more scenes of them together. Besides these minor issues, there is nothing else for me to nitpick about the drama. Overall it was an enjoyable watch that left me yearning for more each week. I was also able to meet some really amazing people on this forum and have enjoyed going through the journey with them.

Lire davantage

A complete drama, full of adventure with healthy relationships.

A historical drama that stands out for its positivity.

Far from the political intrigues, the shenanigans of the court and the blackness / madness of the human soul in harems that we often see in period dramas, this drama is a breath of fresh air. Both very modern in its characters (we are presented with strong female personalities as well as respectful and equal couples) but also very positive in its speech. Even if the subject is serious and we cry often, the tone is never defeatist or pessimistic. It's just about showing us the realities of war and life.

It is a drama where different human relationships are highlighted. We are shown that courage can reside anywhere, that friendship, family, kindness can triumph over cruelty.
We are caught in a roller coaster of emotions. The adventures are breathtaking without dragging too long.
The production is also incredible. Everything is shot in real settings which gives beautiful panoramas.

If you like adventures, wars, strategy, character progression, healthy romances, this drama is for you!
If you enjoy :
- a FL who doesn't lose all personality & independence once in a relationship;
- seeing different types of women without one kind being degraded;
- MLs who don't subdue the woman they love, don't want to rule her, are not possessive and toxic in their "love";
- positive and interesting human relationships (family, friends and love);
- drama that evolves and makes us live full of adventure;
- finish a drama without wondering if the writers have abandoned along the way;
go watch it!

Lire davantage

ANGST YEARNING LOVE

The long ballad was so amazing when I started it I had very high expectations because of what I’ve seen of clips and those exceptions were exceeded!!! All the characters were beautifully thought out and almost all got character arcs which I ADORED. The main couple was AMAZING I loved them so much their chemistry was amazing!!! wu lei was gorgeous here and I hope he takes on more historical roles with outfits and hair like this cause I was immersed in staring at his character ??. The second lead couple was also so so great hao du’s character arc was so good and I adored it so much. I watched this cause lusi and dilreba were in it so I also loved lusi as well. Lusi played the princess so well and her character arc to becoming more mature and understanding of the common people’s suffering was so amazing I really liked how they included that and showed how mature she became after. I adored the Sismance and how much they went through but still remained like sisters :))) The scene where hao du fought was SO GOOD I loved how they built up their romance with this scene. Overall I adored practically every character in this show, the eagle clan members, the mains and the side characters from tang were all so well developed and I fell in love with all of them. I loved how both princesses had a young kid as their sidekick who they saw as their brothers and I loved their characters so much. I loved the emperor as well he was such a good character as well. Also, the main girl’s arc from being harsh after the death of her parents to growing up to be a great princess who fights for the people was amazing I loved how they included that the main leads were there for each other in the worst times of their lives, the romance in general was so amazing for all couples in the show!!! The OST was splendid like every song was so good I definitely bookmarked it to listen to later and the intro song in particular was so good I never skipped the intro song cause I loved it so much! (And I usually skip intro songs to get to the ep faster). Other reviews said this is a good drama as an intro to historical Cdramas and I agree!!! If you’re looking for a drama to watch to introduce yourself to historical Cdramas this is the one! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Edit: I ended up rewatching it just a few days after I finished cause I loved it so much... cannot describe how good this show is the love line progression is amazing alongside everything else also the styling!!!!!! The styling is so gorgeous seriously watch this it’s incredible

Lire davantage

By Far the Best historical Drama that Dilraba Played

STORY
What I love about this series is, it's not dragging to make the story long. Also it's a fast pacing story but not too fast that will make you confuse on some certain scenes. After watching half of the full episodes a lot of things happened and witnessed how Li Changge matured and learned how to set aside revenge to save her country. This series doesn't have a DULL moment. You will always look forward for the next episodes. Overall I love the storyline.

Acting/Cast
Although others are complaining about the age gap between the two lead actors, I don't honestly mind at all for I know that the Director and the Writers cast the two of them not basing thier age, but their capability to fulfill and give justice to the role. So far I like the cast members whether it's the main lead or the supporting actors everyone is giving their best acting and that's what made it so far best Drama for me.

Music
I Love the OST of this Drama especially the opening part, the contemporary song it just made perfect, setting the mood to watch the series.

Rewatch Value
Since it's a fast pacing story I will definitely rewatch it again to reminisce the feeling on watching it the first time!

Overall
I love this Drama not only becuse of the lead actors but how they put logic in every scenes which you don't find often in every cdramas.

Lire davantage

Dilraba and Leo Wu did not disappoint

The two main leads of a drama always make a big difference to a drama. For this, there are 4 leads who completely mesmerise - Dilraba, Leo Wu, Rosy Lusi Zhao and Liu Yu Ning. Additionally, there are the support roles played by Allen Fang and Yi Da Qian, Kudousi and Geng Le - all outstanding in their own rights.

This drama tells the story of a Tang dynasty princess. Li Chang Ge, whose father was the crown prince and was killed by his brother who also massacred his nephews and became the emperor. She escaped and made her way to the northern border in the hope of securing support from her father's former generals to overthrow her uncle. She met an Ashile prince on the way and ended up in the kingdoms in the north. They went through a lot together and fell in love. Along with this, there were secrets, and what appeared to be and was not.

The story is interesting and keeps your attention. There are very few lull moments. To craft suspense and lip-biting moments in dramas, very often scenes which are silly and illogical are conveniently thrown in just for this purpose. There are relatively few of these. The story is pretty convincing although fictitious.

Dilraba who hailed from a number of highly rated dramas like Ten Mile Peach Blossom and its sequel lived up to expectations. Leo Wu who acted the teenage bodyguard Fei Liu has grown into a handsome young man did equally well.

Costumes, music, cinematography, backdrop are all excellent. But I do not like the caps on the male actors - look quite silly.

Lire davantage

Production-wise, it is a very well done drama. I liked the use of illustrations to show battles and fires and flood.... I was expecting more use of it because it was unique.

The script wasn't very good imo. It was trying too hard to sell the audience that the characters **ehemChanggeehem** were smart. In almost every episode someone was saying "you are so smart". Huh, where? Changge is making a bad decision in almost every episode, puts people in danger (better said, made them killed); she is also supposed to be a smart strategist, and all she said was "let's put this group to the right and this to the left" and the other party was "wow Changge, you are so smart, be my right-hand commander". It didn't help at all that at the same time I was watching another drama where the smart MC is actually smart, and the script is actually good, so I was like, She is supposed to be SMART ???

First episode, Changge is this intelligent, tomboy girl who knows how to fight, physically and mentally. Second episode, Changge swears to take revenge. 40 episodes later and all Changge did was saying a few blah-blah and oh, she was the smartest; as for the battles, where was the girl so agile who could fight? She was constantly saved by others; the forever damsel in distress. I was expecting Sun to save her every time she messed up, and yup, here comes the hero. I don't mind damsels in distress, but I do mind when the plot is trying to sell me this brave, strong female character that isn't. Yueyan was stronger imo.

Unfortunately I didn't fall in love with Yueyan/Hao Du as I was hoping. She has a lovely character development (she actually overcomes them ON HER OWN, unlike Changge) but the romance was... ehhh, she loves Shuyu for 40 episodes, gets her heart broken and in the same episode realizes Hao Du is the one. Ehhh.

OST is excellent. Performed by the King an Queen of CDramas OST.

This drama was 10 episodes too long; should have ended around 40 at least.

Lire davantage

Disappointing

Finally found the time to watch this one - after such high reviews. If you are expecting drama similar to Legend of Fuyao or Princess Agents - do not watch. I happen to love strong female characters and was looking forward to this drama. What I got to watch was poor acting - especially by the FL. This actress is better suited for modern dramas or where there is not much action or emotions involved. In this drama, she was supposed to be a trained warrior - there was a scene where she was being chased by soldiers and she is running to evade them - it was actually comical to see her running.

The writers I believe got confused about what exactly they wanted to narrate. FL's character initially wanted revenge - she is supposed to be a strategic thinker, but I never got to see it. I found her dumb, and easily lead/manipulated.

The ML had a very strong screen presence but unfortunately appeared very stiff in the scenes with FL. This could be bcoz he is too young, but he definitely is a promising actor.

Overall, I liked the actor playing Young Khan/Ashile She Er and Zhao Lusi - playing Princess Yuouyan. The actor playing Hao Du has been praised immensely @MDL but to me, he appeared constipated most of the time.

Such a waste of time watching this drama. I am amazed that this show has been so highly rated in MDL.

Lire davantage

Definitely worth watching.

I ABOSULTELY loved watching this drama, definitely worth watching all 49 episodes.

I love the strong and smart female lead. I've seen some of Dilraba's other dramas but this is my favorite character she's acted by far. I never really liked her other characters but she acted so well in this one and the character was strong and smart. I love watching her character development throughout the drama. This drama really showcased her acting and I'm starting to see why she has so many fans. I wasn't a huge fan of her other dramas since the character's she portrayed weren't as likable but the character she played in this drama was so likable. She wasn't perfect but she was smart and strong. She had her problems but she learned to overcome them and it was so great to watch.

This is the first drama I've seen of the male lead and I will definitely be checking some of his other works out now. He is so cute lmao. I felt like the chemistry between the two leads wasn't quite there but I loved the romance that was between the two characters. In the beginning, he kept saving her but I felt as we neared the end of the drama, she became more independent (even though she already was in the beginning) and was able to showcase her great intelligence and strategies. I definitely felt like there wasn't as much martial arts near the end but I was perfectly fine with that because of all the military strategies and mental warfare that was going on covered it.

This is the first drama from Rosy's that I've seen where she wasn't the main lead and I loved her character as well. Her story was well written and I loved seeing her grow throughout the show and learn to care for the country. She played a very delicate princess who grew stronger each episode and learned to carry the responsibility that she holds as the princess of the land. I think her acting was great and her storyline was a nice side story from the main plot. She wasn't the main lead but her character definitely contributed a lot to the main story by influencing the people around her.

The plot was great and I love how every single character went through their own sort of character development and matured throughout the show. The cast was great, I never felt off about any of the actors and will definitely be checking some of their other works out. Music was also great. The drama has art scenes sprinkled throughout the show and as though some people weren't a fan of it, I definitely enjoyed it. It makes me want to check out the manhua and read it as well.

Overall, this is one of the best shows in 2021 and I'm glad that I waited to watch it after it ended. I would never be able to wait for every episode to come out. Each episode was just so interesting and lead me to wanting to watch more. Definitely check it out, it's worth one's time!!!

Lire davantage

Revenge is best served with ketchup, Changge!

This is a really good show and it stays relatively good throughout its run too. It has an interesting premise that develops into exciting plots. The acting is great and the sets are beautiful. I really hope the show will go on to become a trendsetter in Cdrama land. The way it treats its female main characters, its romances, and how it developed logical growth arcs was very impressive but people do get a bit overexcited about how genre-defying it is...it still has plenty of your usual candy cliches.
I can’t stress enough how good the main female characters were though. (but just the main ones! The supporting ones were cr*p!) So, we are used to seeing strong and innocent women in historical dramas. But they usually end up three ways: Mary Sues, cute childish babies, or Femme Fatales. Here that was so beautifully avoided. In the two main female characters. Not anyone else. Just those two female leads.
When a character is feminine and demure, she isn’t a grown woman acting like a five-year-old and when the character is a smart and powerful strategist, she isn’t a perfect robot who makes no mistakes.
The characters were flawed and those flaws were a part of their journey. They had relatively realistic growth arcs and they changed in meaningful ways.
Also, Dilireba’s character Changge started the show by dressing up as a boy and I know people like to joke about how impossible it is for anyone to see someone who has Dilireba’s looks and not realize it’s a woman but I don’t really agree. I’m going to credit Dilireba Dilmurat for being more than a beautiful face and say that she successfully sold the idea of being a woman in a believable male disguise through the way she embodies herself as a boy, her expressions, and her physicality. The voice actress also helped (shout out!). What I have seen so far of cross-dressing characters has only ever really been exaggeratedly ridiculous or just plain improbable but the way Dilireba played her character as a man, was so committed to the illusion with no worries to appear cute or lovely, that it becomes believable. And the best thing? Well, let’s say people don’t end up getting fooled as easily as those in other shows either! Super well-done!

Now I think you should check this show out if you like:

1. Honest depictions of feminine power
2. Tang dynasty aesthetics
3. Female friendships
4. Only side plot romance. It's not really central to the story (for good reason)
5. Moderate amount of battles and fights
6. Enemies to allies to friends to lovers (it’s a mouthful but they did it)
7. Character arcs so fine you could bounce a coin off
8. Cross-dressing characters
9. Scheming and plotting and strategy bs
10. Hot evil dude being sexy while trying to murder the main character
11. Nuanced anti-hero/antagonist who honestly deserved more presence in the show (Not to be confused with: )
12. Also, a weak and bad villain who almost ruined the show (I’ll get to this… oh I will get to this)
13. “War is the folly man’s game” -quote by me
14. Weirdly, there are so many, like really too many, handsome men in this show. Just candy everywhere.
15. Shows that pass the Bechdel test.

Summary: Li Changge is the daughter of the crown prince who one day finds her favorite uncle has staged a coup, killed her parents, and taken the place of the crown prince. Stricken with grief and righteous anger, she sets out on a journey of survival and revenge. Only to realize that the fights over the crown are all bullsh*t because the whole point of government is to help people and taking revenge and vying for power is just about ego and greediness. So she decides to put that cr*p aside and instead help better the country. There's also this hunky hot guy who follows her around, being impressed by her amazingness and helping her.

Story: I love the premise. It’s such a mature way of looking at things. The show really doesn’t play around. From the beginning, it tries to deal with this situation in a serious and focused way. We get a gorgeous B-plot with the second female lead that correlates with the hero’s journey that Changge goes through and the characters mirror each other in such a delicious way that I haven’t seen in cdramas so far. Both of these arcs make sense for the characters we are introduced to. In addition, the love interests get their own character arcs that make sense for them. They are more subdued but it’s good because this is a mostly female-centric story. Then there’s Wei Shuyu who is the human equivalent of an adjustable wrench. A very handsome wrench!
The supporting cast are mostly pretty two-dimensional. I HATED some, I tolerated others but there was a handful I found really interesting. I especially loved the character of Li Shimin who was so deliciously grey and ambiguous. Other than him, most characters had narrative utility but he also has a pivotal role in Changge’s connection to her humanity and that makes him very precious for the story’s integrity.
Mention-worthy details:
1)The jump to comics for big action scenes: It was a choice. A very smart one. It was a bit frustrating but they certainly saved money. I didn't like the choice but I think it was such a cunning way to save money that I am a little charmed by it.

Acting: The acting is very good. I had seen Dilireba, Zhao Lusi, and Wu Lei in other projects and I was so surprised by how improved everyone was. I still can’t really see Wu Lei as a romantic heartthrob, to be honest, but I think everyone else was just fine thirsting after him! The supporting cast's acting is not steadily good. Some actors overact, some are just not good actors, maybe? Others were fine and some did great work.

Music and production: The music is good. I really liked the grassland-inspired themes. I wonder if I’m getting used to the music in cdramas. I used to dislike them all…oh well. The editing was exciting. There were some scenes that were almost worked too much. The shots changed too many times in the beginning but it got better later in the show. The costumes are very pretty and the sets are various and detailed.

The negative: The main issue I have with this show was that the main characters’ character arcs end before the show ends? Like 20 episodes earlier than the end of the show. Then the main character goes on to take actions that are totally in-character but don’t really add anything to her personal growth. She just does things that you would expect her to do in the situations she is put in but she's no longer an active participant. She just reacts.
So, it’s sort of like when you read a novel and then the novel ends and you go and read the extras which are not completely related to the main novel but still hold up. Except here, where the novel actually ended there were still a lot of plot holes and important conclusions were withheld. So, you have to read the extras in order to scavenge those important pieces of information and conclusions amongst more or less irrelevant plot points that mostly focus on side characters.
So yeah. I didn’t like that part. It felt like pandering for the most part. But because the production as a whole is pretty good and they have built up good rep so far in the show, it’s not a complete meltdown. The show kind of goes down with dignity. Everyone is still in-character, the acting is steadily good…for the most part, the sets are beautiful, the editing is melodramatic as always, the plot is exciting, and very-dramatic-moments keep the excitement steadily high so it’s no chore to get through. But I personally think it could be better. For me.
It was like when you see something is stuck between the teeth of the person talking to you and you don’t want to interrupt them or be rude so you don’t say anything but you can’t help noticing it the whole time. I noticed how irritating and pointless yet overused this one character was and it made me see the flaws in the plot and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.
So it’s a good show but the logic is a house of cards; if you poke it, it’ll fall apart. Just don't poke it as I did!

rewatch value: Not a rewatchable show for me, personally. It didn't inspire such unforgettable emotions in me that I would need a repeat.

Overall: Now I still highly recommend this show. I think it’s a few heads above the idol romance drama. I hope its popularity will lead to a new trend among the average cdramas, with logical behavior, better written female characters, sensible and well-developed romance, more grounded acting, and almost no miscommunication.

Lire davantage

Didn’t meet my expectations too much. But still a good drama more or less.

I was anticipating a lot. It was on my watch list for a while but the feeling that it didn’t full fill my expectations as much I would have hoped is one of the worst feelings as overly dramatic as it may be.

The cast is good looking. The strong female lead that is like Mulan is something I always appreciate and a factor I look for with these kind of dramas. The martial arts is great. The story is a little complicated but the essence of the issue remains not too difficult to understand. A second female lead that doesn’t want to kill the first out of jealousy is a breath of fresh air and that’s good.

The romance part is sweet between the first leads. But it lacked the passionate element that just too me would seal the deal but they didn’t show that even the kiss scene was blurred out and it just showed two birds making out. Even the supporting actors kiss would be shown. I don’t know what’s up with that.

So because of this, the romance element isn’t wholeheartedly something i was glad to see because right lacked that passion. Some might not find this important but some does so I m one of them.

I mean putting the aside the food looks of the cast if something like is lacking the romance element isn’t wholly fulfilled.

The second male lead who had feelings for the first female lead was a bit of coward he didn’t truly fought for her or had the courage to do anything to stand up to the bully. The second female lead was sweet but abit annoying of how many times she kept crying over something.

The editing for the last scene of the fire was hilariously bad but oh well.

If these elements isn’t crucial for you to look for then it might still be a watch for you.

I might not watch it again for a while.

Lire davantage

A story of woman empowerment - from a bird egg fan!

I'm often late to the party because I like to be careful when choosing dramas to watch, but I just had to write a review on this drama that was by far the best 2021 Chinese drama for me (that pushed Word of Honor (山河令) one place down, oops!).

Story
I personally enjoy historical + wuxia dramas, and this was a relatively good mix that had lots of action and didn't focus too much on political discussions unlike drams such as Yanxi Palace (延禧宫). I saw many reviews commenting that the plot may be cliche, but I concur otherwise. Predictable as it is, the storyline is unique and refreshing (e.g. the King's support for Chang Ge, the advisors' patriotism for the country). Moreover, the plot was easy to follow such that you can focus on the characters, which is great for viewers like me who don't like to be muddled by the 101 things that are going on.

Initially the vibe from episode 1-2 seemed similar to Princess Agents (楚乔传) and I was expecting to feel that emptiness and heartache I felt when watching the drama then. Fortunately, the plot didn't focus too much on the "revenge" notion, and while characters seem to be able to get over deaths pretty quickly, I saw it as a trade-off for the plot to move on. That being said, the death scenes definitely did make me cry and hey- that's got to do with the amazing actors as well!

One more note - on the part of romance, there were lots of cute pairings, but neither was it the main plot of this drama, nor was it cringe in any aspects. Very well-balanced.

Acting/Cast
Any bird egg fans (鸟蛋 - Chang Ge x Ashina Sun fans)? Seeing how much the actors have improved since a few years back (I watch Dilraba in Eternal Love (三生三世十里桃花) and Sweet Dreams (一千零一夜), Wu Lei in Fights Break Sphere (斗破苍穹) which I dropped mid-way), I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment for them - they are definitely hardoworking actors, and I am glad that their effort has paid off! Acting was great, especially the emotions that they convey through their eyes...

As much as I try to think from another perspective, I simply disagree with critics on their acting. Indeed, I can concede that one or two parts were awkward and did not fit the emotions of the story then, but it could possibly be due to the time of filming (some later scenes were filmed earlier). But regardless, this was definitely not an issue at all for me! Side leads were great as well, and there were lots of veteran actors that made the entire drama a +++!

Music
Is there anything more that needs to be said? The first time I heard the ending song, I was sure this drama was going to be great (and yes, I'm glad I was right)!! Best OSTs of 2021, really.

The sound effects throughout the drama was well thought through too. There is a YouTube documentary video on the making of the OSTs and sound effects which really showed the intention to deviate from typical historical dramas that makes it even more worth watching :)

The Long Ballad is a story of female empowerment, with a well-balanced plot that captivated me from the start to the end. It may be slightly long for those who don't like long dramas, but it's definitely worth watching (just watch the first episode first! If you like it, that's the kind of standard you can hold the rest of the drama up to :) ).

Have fun!!

Lire davantage

It's decent to me.

I read a bit of the manhua when I was way younger and was interested in how this would turn out.

I watched a lot of Dilraba historical dramas so I was curious on how this would turn out.

I honestly think she isn't the best actress out there, but I somehow always end up watching her stuff.

I think the cast is very physically attractive.

I really enjoy the opening theme song, it's stuck in my head often, when a song from a show is stuck in my head, that's when I know I really like it or it's very catchy.

I felt like this drama is decent. It wasn't bad but it wasn't that good.

I feel like the main character, Li Chang Ge seems to lack a lot of depth.

I am mainly blown away by the character, Ashile She Er. I think him and Le Yan have the most impressive character growth in the drama. The fact that they self reflected a lot on their behaviors to become better people really touched me deeply. Ashile She Er made me tear up when he thought deeply into his morals and actions to be fair to Ashile Sun really touched my heart. I get really touched by people who acknowledge and work on personal growth.

I 'd recommend this to people who enjoy women empowerment.

Lire davantage