A beautiful saga of Li Changge!!
The Long Ballad is a beautiful, engaging, enchanting, intriguing, impressive tale of the princess Li Changge.Everything about this drama is iwonderful and fabulous💯👏👌
Diliraba as Li Changge is perfect. I can never imagine anyone else playing this role.
Leo Wu as Ashile Sun, is outstanding. By far, my most favorite and impressive male lead, is, Ashile Sun. He is such a gentleman. Kudos to Leo Wu for breathing life into this character with his applause worthy performance.
Each and every other actor, were outstanding in their performances. 💯👌
The locations, music, plot, pace, action scenes, everything is awesome 👍
What I liked most about this drama is, the character development for each and every role towards the end.
My only regret is not watching this earlier.!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and MUST WATCH DRAMA!!
Li Changge and Ashile Sun, you are my most favorite couple😍
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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?
Love the main actors and story line
THIS IS LITERALLY MY FAVORITE DILRABAS SHOW!! I loved the story line and the main actress love story and routes are so cute and they helped each other out! This is not like those stories where one of the main characters is “useless,” they are both strong and used their brain.The main story line is actually soo good. It contains alot of meaningful scenes and words. I loved watching Li Changge’s growing stage. Love love love!!!
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♡ 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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More action and growing, than romance – loved it for that.
Given the fact, it's a story based on manhua, it has its own rights on how to tell the story. On top of that, compared to the original manhua I really loved the job crew did on giving the characters more depth and explaining the story in more logic way.Plot: 9
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★★★★★ Main idea:
--> Very strong, intriguing and well thought out.
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★★★☆☆ Logic:
--> Plot sort of makes sense, but especially in the second half there are many unreasonable and annoying twists that disturb the overall impression from the story. It lost the continuity, the original plot was somewhat forgotten and there started to be too many other new short plots and characters, which made me lose my focus and get a bit bored.
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★★★★★ Pace:
--> Although I would personally end the story somewhere halfway through and considered it perfect, the story has so many great characters, one simply seeks to stay with them a little longer, even if the plot loses its pace.
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★★★★★ Impression:
--> Still can't stop thinking about it.
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★★★★★ Skip rate:
--> Didn't skip anything, on the contrary, it made me watch it twice in a row.
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★★★★★ Annoying factors:
--> The annoyance is well balanced with fascination, so it’s fair and square not to reduce any points.
Characters: 9,5
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★★★★★ Lead 1 - Ashile Sun:
--> Ashile Sun is a textbook example of a typical hero – clever, patient, loyal, cunning, great fighter, always survives, always outsmarts the opponent, lenient, strong and protective… He is so annoyingly flawless it would make one sick. And yet, precisely this type of non-existent perfection is why we watch romance dramas.
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★★★☆☆ Lead 2 - Li Changge:
--> I loved this strong-minded, brave and cunning girl in the first half of the series. And yet I got a bit annoyed by her in the second half, hating her constantly running around doing whatever she liked with zero consideration of the aftermath.
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★★★★★ Overacting:
--> Kind of cute or absent.
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★★★★★ Acting:
--> Actors are great, very talented.
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★★★★★ Annoyance level:
--> Not annoyed at all. There are plenty of excellently profiled characters, even some minor side characters have well thought out personalities, which completes the overall atmosphere.
Background: 10
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★★★★★ Soundtrack:
--> Absolutely loved it.
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★★★★★ Visuals (camera, scenery, visual effects, ...):
--> Absolutely loved it. Some scenes are drawn and presented as the actual manhua, and it was splendid. Other than that, there were many impressive fighting scenes, completing the great impression.
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★★★★★ Wardrobe (costumes, hairstyles, makeup, ...):
--> Absolutely loved it.
Rewatch value: 10
I assess this value based on impression, skip rate, annoyance level and overall preference.
Final verdict: 9,5
I actually think the drama is way too much better than the original and I was really impressed. I am willing to forgive all queerness and imperfections, since there were many other factors making up for it.
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The most underated chinese drama
First of all the main character is pretty and she looks good in the drama. The storyline was so good. Dilireba sacrifice herself fitting in custome that suit with the original comics, that get some bad review on weibo. She even cut off some of her eyebrown to pair this character. In this drama, change is bringing live to reallife by her amazing acting skill. Her acting skill are superior which can makes me cry over her.ROMANCE:
Romances are slow burns but they are built from the first episode and were really wonderful! The main couple spoiled us with beautiful scenes and incredible dialogue throughout the drama.
OST:
It is certainly one of the most beautiful OST there is. All the songs fit wonderfully into the drama
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This review may contain spoilers
Not perfect but it was good? Enjoyed the anime that was included here and there
A good historical romance series. Enjoyed it.******SMALL SPOILER ********
Story: 9 well written with well thought out plots, character building and everything nicely tied up.
Acting : 8.5 All actors did a great job at portraying their respective characters. Leo Wu and Dilraba Dilmurat did well but chemistry between them was just not there making it hard to believe they are in love. Zhao Lusi and Liu Yuning did great and their 'love' was believable, as well as that of Xiyue Cao and Yi Daqian's.
Production and Visual FX : 8.5 enjoyed the anime that was included here and there. Costumes for the Ashile tribe and other tribes were great especially that of Ashile Sun (Leo Wu)
OST: 9 loved all the songs used and sound effects were just right.
Rewatch value : 0 Even though I enjoyed it I don't think I will rewatch it and there's also no single episode that wowed me in such a way that I would pin it to watch again later.
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A great watch..
LIKEHow Ashile Sun met Chang Ge and how their relationship slowly developed
Sun and Se' Er's brotherhood
What Gongsun Heng did - admirable
DISLIKE
Some parts are draggy especially on Princess Yong An and later part of Ashile Khatun's scenes...
MUSIC - personal fav
繭 Can - 周深 Zhou Shen
REWATCH VALUE
Adding to my list to re-watch someday
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