Okay to watch if you want to pass the time
Overall the drama was mediocre. A typical strong female revenge drama but failed to give much depth. The show lacks balance between the protagonists and the antagonists. The screen time was dominated with the main leads that it left no room for it's villains and secondary characters. This leaves me feeling disconnected with the drama. Without the focus on other characters the story tends to become irrational and ridiculous. I cannot for the life of me believe that during that era a Prime Minister would let a 15 year old girl command soldiers. Nor can I believe a King would only deploy one guard to find a Crown Princess. If you are willing to throw out your common sense and just want to indulge in looking at pretty people falling in love then this drama is for you. What this drama end up being was two beautiful main leads and their love story because that is the only thing that seems to be shot well in this drama but it's not enough to make me want to continue. The revenge aspect got lost by the middle of the drama and soon you're left with wondering what is the point in all this? Too many simple questions left unanswered throughout the entire drama. It's one of those dramas where you can just watch clips and be fine with it because the story as a whole was disappointing.Was this review helpful to you?
Anticipating...
This is an amazing drama!!!!!It is well portrayed and the storyline is well written. The characters are acted out so well and the cast is chosen perfectly and they have done justice to the characters. It is one of the few dramas that actually make you feels so engrossed into the story that you want to keep watching it to find out what happens next and I have got to hand it out to the scriptwriters and the manhua's author as they have written a great piece of work.
I loved every plot and line the actors spoke and how interesting it felt at every moment and scene. Though I've only watched a few episodes of what they have released but I can tell it will and is gonna be one of my favorite dramas out there. This may also be because I really like the male lead and his works but regardless it was worth the while and time.
The music and ost's were again chosen perfectly the were an amazing fit to the plot, they were made and directed very nicely. Tencent video is actually a very good online video streaming platform where almost all dramas are binge worthy(not too twisted).
I totally recommend watching this and if you want similar works just check out the recommendations I made on the recommendations page.
Hope ya'll definitely check this out!!!
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A must-watch drama! One of the best series this year
I really love the story. Raba is an amazing actress and she is perfect as Chang Ge. Raba is gorgeous and has a strong character here. I can't imagine anyone who can play Chang ge perfectly. I've read the manga. I'm thankful that the director gave more depth to the characters in the story. Leo looks like a matured man and I love his role very much. He is really cool as Ashina Sun. Raba and Leo are the perfect couple! I can hardly wait for the next episode. Hope the writer and producer will give a happy ending ( though I don't wish this to end soon haha).Was this review helpful to you?
The Long Snore 无聊
This was one long boring Historical CDrama. GF and I kept trying to slog through it, finally throwing the towel in the thirtyish episode. Initially it was sort of decent, the FL is a strong character who is tough and has exceptional martial arts skills. She is hell bent on revenge for what was done to her and her family.The memorable part of the FL's initial interaction with the ML is the competion with the ML in the Cuju match scene. I really enjoyed the Cuju match which is an ancient sports game going back to the Han Dynasty popular in the military and royalty. I felt it was executed beautifully although I cannot attest to the historical accuracy of the game play.
However, the story line and plotting became a big drag of revenge and messy plotting of political intrigue. Too many filler side stories and dragging things out un-necessarily. No chemistry between the leads, it felt like they would be better as siblings than lovers. The SML character who falls in love with the FL is annoying, not talking about the actor himself but the role. I don't know if the SML role was used as a contrast to the ML as a way to prop up the ML to the viewers; he was weak willed and undecisive. The princess SFL was also weak and fragile. It got annoying when she kept crying all the time, she does mature more later on as she goes through some hardships. The guard dude SML with the princess SFL chemistry was better and the love story between them was more engaging than the leads. You end up rooting more for them than anyone else.
Since its a big budget show, I need not say more on the production quality of the series. The acting was okay, the ML is on the stiff and wooden end of things. The FL and princess SFL did a pretty good job in their roles despite a messy drawn out storyline.
If one has insomnia and wants something to help them fall asleep, this might be the show for it.
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Truly a long ballad!
To be honest, this is my third time rewatching this drama as I have watched it before and every time it is just as good. I don't think I can ever get sick of this drama. The acting, to the story, to the production are all chef's kiss. This is one of the few dramas I've watched that made me feel this way. Although 49 eps seems long when watching it, it really isnt. Each episode is filled with entertainment you can never really get sick of. I genuinely cannot find another drama as amazing as this one. It has everything you need and would like in one drama. Truly a masterpiece.Story :
The story speaks about the history of Da Tang, which is the mainland and most popular land in the olden days of China. The emperor in this drama, Li Shimin is an actual person in ancient chinese history. He was one of the best emperor China has seen. This drama focuses on the life of a rebel princess, Li Changge, going through hardships and learning valuable lessons. I love how the story never stirred away from the main plot and always focused on Changge and all her experiences. Typically dramas with a lot of episodes tend to get lost in the middle, but this drama stayed on point throughout all 49 episodes so props to the director and producers. The way Changge wanted revenge on the person who killed her family but ended giving that up as she realised that would not bring peace, but more suffering. The symbolism in this drama was also amazing, the way the beginning and the ending mirrors each other makes the ending all the more satisfying.
CGI:
The CGI was really good. I love how some parts of the drama the producers imputed ani8mated scenes because some people cannot handle people dying or like a mass slaughter. This helps all viewers enojoy the show without leaving anyone uncomfortable. The costumes were also really good, especially the ashele ren's. The long hair and head pieces, looks way better than the tang outfits, in my opinion. Very well done!
Music :
The music was perfect! The beginning song/OST is one of my favorite songs everrrr. It's soo good, literally gives me chills. Tyhe whole soundtrack was amazing as well. The actor who plays Hao du(Liu yunning) is an amazing singer, a lot of the songs in this drama and other dramas are sang by him. Music was perfect, the way the music matches the situation, and how whenever we see ashelesun or the egale tribe, or any other grassland tribe had their own like intro music which really fit their situation and their like culture, if that makes sense.
Acting:
The acting was really good by the cast. This is the first drama I watched with wu lei, and boy let mje tell you he shined. I heard of hipm from Nirvana in fire, but he 2was very young in that show, so seeing how much he grown and how he is able to bring such a complicated character to life amazes me. For only being 21 years old, he did an amazing job. Dilireba, as a mazing as always! Her acting never disappoints, she always manages to slay her roles but i feel like the role of Li Changge was meant for her, I genuinely cannot imagine another person playing this role. Zhao lusi also did amazing, I love her character. The way her character used to be a scared little girl who always cried and needed protection to being able to stand up for herself was amazing. Zhao lusi really portrayed this role so well, Well done to all the actors and actresses in this drama, everyone did amazing. I also want to applaud the emperor's acting, you could really feel his pain when he heard that Li Changge died, and the way he loved his people and wanted nothing but peace for everyone. The chemistry between wu lei and reba was off the charts!! The way you cant even feel a big age difference bc they made their relationship so comfortable and nothing awkward between them. I genuinely want to see them in another drama together cuz they did amazing. The character development of every character was amazing, some realized the path they want to take, others realized they been looking at the situation all wrong and some gained confidence in themselves. The changes really show how time and a journey could change someone.
Ending:
The ending was amazing, a perfect ending really. We got to see our main couple have a happy ending. I love how neither the main couple or second lead couple had to say the words "I love you" to the other, it really shows more symbolism, like i dont need to say it to show you i love you. The way they let their actions show how they feel was so sweet. The ending where they managed to fight the evil person and bring peace to the whole world, where there is no more fighting bc at the end the people suffering the most is the citizens, who are innocent. A perfect ending for everyone, kinda feel sorry for mujin tho, he lost the love of his life, wish they could have gotten a happy ending.
Overall an amazing drama!!!! Will definitely rewatch and never get tired of it <3333
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Great plot!
I only watched this because of Zhao Lusi lol. The story is good but I only cared for the Li Le Yan and Hao Du scenes. 🤣Honestly, I skipped majority (knew enough about what was going on) and watched Le Yan and Hao Du. I LOVE them. They were adorable. The other main lead couple is cute as well.
I wish it showed more of Du and LeYan. They are considered main roles too. I figured it'd show more so....BUT their love story and how it happened. She could rely on Du and he never disappoints. Yeah he followed Le Yan cause of her sister etc but I could tell he really liked her. When she slapped him, I'm like oh s***, girllll but then he cried. I cried with him. 😭😭 I knew Du liked her from episode 1. The stank eyes he gives Wei Shu Yu throughout series was funny. Also, am AMAZING ending for them 🥰
Now Chang Ge and Ashile Sun had a good ending I suppose. I was hoping she would go back to at least visit and all instead of like basically gonna cut everyone out. I get it but she should also think of her sister, Li Le Yan. ☹️
Overall, I enjoyed it and will definitely be watching again. (Mainly for Li Le Yan and Hao Du)
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An incredible series
This series caught my attention some years ago via the short teaser snippets from YouTube to the synopsis of the story / series. The "bonus" that caught my attention even more was having more than just 1 of my favorite actors and actresses playing this series. However, I dragged it out till now to watch because the total amount of episodes for this series was a bit too much for me. I rarely like extreme many episode series not because the series is bad but it is quite hard to find the time to complete them. Nonetheless, this series is definitely worth the watch.I have not read the book of this series, probably would start hunting it down now. I know that quite a number of these characters do exist in reality though the story is mostly fictional. But it is a beautiful story, filled with alot of action, drama, political drama, learning to work together to eliminate the biggest threat and not to mention survival of the fittest. I especially love watching how the 2 female leads become stronger in character - especially the timid princess played by Zhao Lu Si - from their life experiences outside the palace.
The entire cast for this series did an extremely good job in breathing life to this series. From the main leads to support roles to the casual people you find in the series. Each and everyone of them definitely did a good job in bringing this series to life. The lead couples of this series are also very good together, although I am slightly bias with Leo Wu and Diliraba. Having watched Love like the galaxy before this, I feel Leo Wu - in terms of looks compatibility, from my own personal opinion only! - is much better matched with Zhao Lu Si. However, I have to say Kudos to both these pairs, they brought out their individual romance for this series very well. Definitely a thumbs up to all of them for their hardwork!
The soundtrack is beautifully matched and very drama"ish" with all the scenes. Totally love both the music and the series!
A thumbs up. Definitely recommend for a first watch, especially if you like ancient royal stories. For a re-watch, well it would depends on whether if you guys feel it is worth watching.
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This review may contain spoilers
It's fine but misses on important beats
The Long Ballad is one of those stories where the princess who's only known royalty her whole life gets everything changed. She goes from princess to garrison leader to slave to the leader of a coalition. The story is focused on her journey and her romance with a general from the central plains. It's a fine story. The side characters such as the emperor, the crown princess, Haodu, and Sun's captains are all fine. My main problem is that Changge is too OP in this show. Like she literally gets shot in the chest with an arrow and falls off a cliff but we're supposed to believe she survives. Many other times she finds herself in dire situations and she gets out unscathed, either by herself or by getting saved. It's tiring seeing her get out of situations with no real consequence. What was the worst thing that happened to her after she left the capital? A kid she teamed up with for like 2 episodes died. Even when she becomes enslaved it doesn't really matter because she's protected by Sun. Speaking of Sun, the main romance in this show is not convincing in my opinion. Something about it doesn't work for me. The actors have chemistry, but it seems so rushed. They barely get any actual time together. They're always moving from one place to another and we're supposed to believe they develop a romance during that time. Ironically, the side romance between Leyan and Haodu was way more compelling. They get a lot of screen time and we can watch their relationship grow. When Haodu ultimately fights for Leyan's hand in marriage, it feels earned and there was a lot that built up to that moment. One of my favorite moments was when Haodu's adopted father finally made him an official member of the family so that he could marry into the royal bloodline. These are things missing from the main romance. There's just no time when they talk to each other about things that aren't plot related. But it's not all bad though. The plot, although bouncing from place to place too much, is pretty good. Whenever there were action scenes, they were done well. Although I really didn't like it when action scenes would be taken over by artwork and the actors were forced to stand in front of a green screen and shout their lines. I get the intent, but it's not fit for a live-action show. The acting was also really well done by the main actors. I didn't buy the main romance but it wasn't the fault of the actors. They sure did try. One last thing, the music is pretty good aside from one track that is basically completely plagiarized from "Up is Down" by Hans Zimmer. A couple of memorable melodies otherwise. There are still enough positives to make this a fine watch. I doubt I'll ever rewatch the entire series again, but there are definitely scenes that are worth revisiting. Solid drama.Was this review helpful to you?
♡ Dilraba & Wu Lei – A Standout Pairing ♡
The Long Ballad is a beautifully crafted Chinese historical drama starring Dilraba Dilmurat as Li Changge and Wu Lei as Ashile Sun. Set during the Tang Dynasty, it follows the journey of Li Changge, a strong-willed princess seeking revenge after her family is betrayed and killed, and her complex relationship with Ashile Sun, a fierce yet honorable warrior from the Ashile Tribe.● Story & Pacing-
The plot is packed with political intrigue, war strategies, and personal growth. The first half leans heavily on Changge’s revenge arc, but over time, the story shifts toward survival, leadership, and moving past hatred. The pacing is mostly solid, though some side character arcs slow things down a bit.
♡ Dilraba & Wu Lei – A Perfect Casting Choice ♡
One of the biggest highlights of The Long Ballad is Dilraba’s performance. This is easily one of her most mature and layered roles, as she seamlessly portrays Changge’s evolution from a reckless princess to a sharp strategist. She balances strength, vulnerability, and intelligence in a way that makes her character incredibly engaging.
☆ Wu Lei, on the other hand, proves why he’s one of the most promising actors out there. As Ashile Sun, he brings a commanding presence, effortlessly blending power with emotional depth. Even though he’s young, he completely sells the role of a battle-hardened warrior, while also showing moments of tenderness—especially in his scenes with Dilraba. Their chemistry isn’t the overly dramatic, love-at-first-sight kind; it’s a slow burn built on mutual respect, making every interaction feel meaningful.
● Production & Cinematography-
Visually, The Long Ballad is stunning. The cinematography does a great job of showcasing the vast landscapes, intense battle sequences, and intricate details of the Tang Dynasty. The action scenes are well-choreographed, making them feel both thrilling and realistic. Plus, the costumes and set designs are top-notch, adding to the historical authenticity.
● Supporting Cast & Screen Time Issues-
The supporting cast is strong, but some side plots—especially the romance between Le Yan (Zhao Lusi) and Hao Du (Liu Yuning)—drag on longer than necessary. Their story is sweet, but it often takes up more screen time than needed, pulling focus away from the more compelling arcs of Changge and Ashile Sun.
■ Final Thoughts-
Overall, The Long Ballad is a well-executed historical drama with standout performances from Dilraba and Wu Lei, breathtaking visuals, and a gripping storyline. While the romance is more subtle than typical historical C-dramas, the depth of the characters and themes of resilience, loyalty, and redemption make it a must-watch. If only it had trimmed some of the unnecessary side plots and focused more on its strongest elements—Changge and Ashile Sun—it would have been even better.
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Best love story
OK I have to admit this is One amazing story. The characters, the story line, the costume, the plot, And the music. I don’t know how to say it, but it is so moving that my heart pounds every time I watch the next episode. all the characters in this were amazing. They’re acting were top-notch I have followed them, hoping to see more of them and other series. I fell in love with everyone of them. I absolutely love love this series. The plot in the story was in such amazing details. This is probably one of the top five of my series. I watched that I absolutely will watch over and over again.Was this review helpful to you?
MUST WATCH
War series but not dark at all. the mood is lighten by the main and support roles. All characters was given a room to grow and mature into their characters. All characters that has enough screen time and speaking lines are completely NOT one-dimensional. They have their own history, personality, shortcomings and chance to show their other side. This is the only Chinese series I've watched where mostly all actors has exemplary acting from support roles, to villains, to extras. That's very good casting.(FL) Li Changge has superhero complex. Story was set in a time where woman has no voice. Male leaders having found out that she's a woman was in awe instead of taking offense. I kept waiting for a rumour that she's a witch because of her prowess, but there's none.
(ML) Ashile Sun is asexual then turned obsessed with the female lead. If you're in for romance, you'll absolutely love that. Modern day weirdo but if you're into that, go for it.
The main female and male lead has no real kissing scene where the other 10 couples have--even birds have their own spotlight! The inadequacy of the intimacy between the FL and ML are very well-compensated by the passionate interaction of the support roles.
Failed to showcase the masculinity and savagery of Mongol tribes. It also fell short if it wants to go political. Nevertheless, all loop holes were connected, all scenes has a clear direction and purpose. Will keep you tuned in because this series is very rich in content.
Good soundtrack and sound effects.
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A Rollercoaster of Emotions with a Few Bumps
The Long Ballad is a captivating blend os action, politics, and romance that will keep you kooked. The sets, costumes, and fight scenes are beautifully choreographed, and the chemistery between the leads is undeniable. The female protagonist is a refreshing departure from the typical damsel in distress, showcasing her intelligence and strategic lind.While some episodes may drag and the romance occasionally takes a backseat to the political intrigue, the overall experience is enjoyable. The finale, unfortunately, feels a bit rushed.
If you historical dramas with well-developed characters and don't mind a slower pace, this drama is worth checking out. It's not perfect, but it offers a nice balance of action and emotion.
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