This action packed, forbidden romance premise is highly engaging. Every single episode ends in a cliffhanger, making you want to watch the next and then the next ....
Binge watching, however, I noticed that large chunks of episodes go by with nothing really resolved. The plot doesn't 'move' much. Also, due to the repeated use of cliffhangers, the impact of large action and rescue scenes decrease over the course of the show.
The acting was great, and I often enjoyed the secondary characters just as much if not more than the main ones. I was fond of all of them, and continued to watch just to see how it ended. As others have noted, the two main leads have little romantic chemistry when sharing screen time (but when they are apart, you deeply believe that they care for each other). The secondary romance had much more connection.
The music, especially the end credits song, was a bit more haunting and creative than average. One or two action scenes where thrilling enough that I may rewatch selectively . . I grade on other criteria:
Complex Themes: 5
Simplistic: If you do right by your country and your people, all the rest will fall into place. Never be too prideful to lose sight of the bigger picture and learn from others. Self-sacrifice is a mark of good character.
Character Growth: 7
Each character has a standard trajectory, from pride, ego, or blind obedience, to doing what is best for your people. They all get a bit more grounded and thoughtful, less brash and impetuous.
Relationships/Depictions of women: 7
There are a lot of female friendships in the show, as well as a bit of focus on mother daughter relationships as well. I wouldn't say any of the depictions are complex: and the women are often separated from each other.
Production values/cinematography: 8
The show made a strange choice to switch to illustrations instead of live action whenever a scene would be too complex or expensive to shoot. Besides that odd choice, a few of the action scenes were truly thrilling and creative, and production values were generally high.
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Big Reba and Leo fan!!
I was expecting a lot more romance scenes between Li Changge and Ashile Sun, because they have such a cute dynamic. I'd recommend this if you like the main couple and are willing to binge the drama in 2x speed while skipping through some unnecessary parts.I didn't read the manhua, so I'm not sure how much was changed, but I do feel some parts that made it into the real life drama should have been changed or cut out, as it either wasn't executed that great or it was just weird seeing it in real life vs had I read it in a book/cartoon.
I think this does play into why Li Changge and Ashile Sun didn't have too many scenes together, since the manhua was maybe less focused on your traditional romance?
Overall, there's definitely better dramas of this storyline/genre, but I am such a huge Dilreba fan I had to see her in this.
Pros:
- The storyline about war/peace/Chinese dynasties etc was simple enough to enjoy and digest.
- I'd honestly say the beginning of the drama was better than the end, just because there was a lot more action, seriousness, and "omg idk whats gonna happen next."
- Good looking idol actors. I'm gonna go ahead and give Leo Wulei some credit for portraying a manly aura at just the young age of 21. The kid's quite slender in frame but the way he carries himself was fitting for the role. The only actor I compare him to is Zhang Bin Bin, who was extremely masculine in King's Woman (which sucked as a drama but entertaining nonetheless) at the age of 24. So yeah, excited to see how Leo grows in the next few years.
Cons:
- If you're looking for a mind-blowing storyline, save your time and skip. A lot of the scenes were almost predictable and sadly corny.
Overall, I feel like this drama was hyped up to a degree, and I'd imagined it so differently in my head... No regrets watching it at the end of a long day of work as the episodes came out each week, but if I could choose a drama to watch of my own free will during a few days of vacation, I'd skip on this one.
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This review may contain spoilers
The Long March of an Excellent Drama
The story itself intrigued me but I only knew and was watching for Dilraba and LHK. What I got out of it was so much more. I will begin with outlining the pros then the cons. This costume drama has been moved into my number 2 position and added two more actors to my following pile on Weibo.Pros: The cast was absolutely superb. Our main leads were completely equal in everything they did. CG was a general in her own right and never played second fiddle to the ML. Everyone knows that Dilraba can and often plays strong characters so, I expected nothing less from her. Leo Wu, amazed me as it was the first time I'd seen him act in anything. For a 21 year old, to be able to play Ah Sun in such a regal and powerful way, was very impressive. Ah Sun was a man who knew his strengths and weaknesses and was able to let CG be the woman she was without belittling her. It's not often that in these costume dramas women FL can be as equal if not more powerful at times (take the rescue scene in episode 48) then the ML. Also showed how CG touched everyone's lives she met and the good ones followed her especially came to aid her in that episode (the assembly of the kitchen sink) when she needed it most.
Our second leads, though they had smaller scenes, did develop very slowly. Leyan's character was very annoying until mid way through when she finally had gone through all of her trials and tribulations; then she had a quiet grace and could formulate a plan or an idea without crying. And ice cube aka Hao Du I wanted hit with a frying Pan for a long time for trying to kill CG but after the slap heard around the world and great speech made by a now totally different Leyan, he started to melt (and his nickname got changed to ice melt). I only knew of Liu Yuning from the variety show "Our Song", so I knew he was a wonderful singer but now I found that he is a great actor as well. He was able to go from a cold-blooded puppet of his father to a hero and loving man to Leyan and a really great ally to CG.
Many of the side characters like the celibate one aka Shuyu who some people didn't think grew much, I felt he matured a lot himself though he was a sad character for not ending up with the woman he loved but maybe he won't be celibate forever and meets someone in Chang'an someday. LHK's Master made me laugh because it was the direct opposite character of the one he played in CQL and it was a great change for him. Every single character belonged in the show, for however long they were supposed to be. I do feel sad for Mimi's sacrifice because her character was truly a tragic one where though what she did was heroic, she would never get to be with the man she loved and her brother plus her friends. To have such a tragedy happen in the second to last episode, was very overwhelming, but I could see it was done to remind characters and audience of how precious life really is.
Khatun or bitch devil from hell, actress did a wonderful job playing the Wolf in sheep's clothing. Turned out that she was actually worse than the Khan himself having killed three out of four. To be able to play such an absolutely calculating, deranged character takes a lot and I command her for that.
The fact that nearly every stereotype and trope that you see in their dramas both costume and modern ones were disregarded was a pleasant surprise. Every misunderstanding was ironed out fairly quickly no matter how complicated and confusing between all leads and even the side characters. Things weren't just piled on and then hurriedly untangled in two episodes at the end but as things went along, things were solved. It was great to see.
I loved the OSTs as they fit each couple and the stories to perfection. Everyone got the song and power of their characters within all. The growth of all characters and their travels to get to their proper places both physically and literally was done well.
Cons: The horrible cartoons that were placed instead of every major battle and even for other shots was very obvious that production didn't have a lot of money. They lost so many nuances because of them and they should have used more CGI instead of that if it was such a problem. The blurry kiss and birds taking over was another negative. I don't know why it happened as some people here claim it's in his contract to not kiss until he's 21 and his parents run his studio while others say netizens were responsible for it; whatever the reason, it could have been done differently, though the forehead kisses, hugs, and all the love aka "like" shown through actions, did make up for it. Finally, the ending in my opinion wasn't satisfying in the least. More cartoons and our main leads in different places as a bird flies over them watching. Yes, I understand they are free and together but I personally felt that if they had them both on horses standing together on a hill overlooking the grasslands would have been more powerful. Like this power couple are looking over their world that they helped save, would have been the perfect ending to this series.
The pros way outweighed the cons. No series is 100% perfect. I will be rewatching my favorite episodes and scenes for a while and this drama is an absolutely recommend from me and many others here. I'm very glad I got a chance to watch this and meet some awesome people in the ever growing comment section. Congratulations to the cast and crew on a very successful airing! Bravo!
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A power couple that is the ultimate couple goal!
I'll avoid spoilers since there's plenty in the thousands of comments :D.I honestly believe that this drama will become an all-time classic and a story that will be adapted a few more times with spin-offs for different characters. The intricate story, amazing plot building, beautifully fitting music, unforgettable and complex characters, and relationships are among the many reasons I consider this one of the best dramas to come out of modern Asian literature.
****Short review****
This show is a gem - it flowed at a great pace and was so well executed, acted, and directed (mostly - you'll understand if you read the comments). Seriously, HUGE KUDOS to the entire team involved in this drama. From conception to completion, it was a power team that gave us the audience such a fantastic, addictive experience. Nothing was overlooked, and you can tell that a lot of attention and thought was given to the cinematography, the sets, the props, the costumes, the music and sound effects, and the dialogue. It had everything that made you feel so much - moments that were heart-tugging, weep-worthy, tense, suspenseful, annoying, romantic, joyous, jubilant, or just plain satisfying. Politics were involved but nothing were confusing and draggy. There was also romance, enhanced by crackling chemistry that pulls you right in, but it was never only about the love stories. This drama focused on the development of the main characters and their growth, exploration, and the outcomes of different journeys and choices.
I do recommend this show - this is one where many felt that 49 episodes were not enough!
****Long review****
Why this show is a 10 for me!
- Storyline and characters
So much of this show is poetic interpretation. The words, the gestures, the looks, the expressions, the songs, everything has multiple meanings. The show executed this so well, keeping me, the audience enthralled and engaged all the way. It is truly an intellectually and emotionally intelligent show, emphasizing loyalty, courage, kindness, healthy relationships, and self-discovery. The characters' life-changing circumstances and adversities make for dramatic adventures, keeping the show interesting, and their personal growth and development made me feel pride. The growth came from maturity, experience, awareness, and overcoming hardships.
Most of these characters are well-written, and no one was all good or all bad. Every good character had flaws, and every villain had a backstory that made them relatable and their actions justifiable. The series was well-balanced and smartly showed different aspects of a situation, and showed the different perspectives of the characters. You will come to understand what the characters went through, the reasons for their emotions, and their circumstances. I found myself connecting with the characters and rooting for them, especially the main couple. They earned my admiration - they both had reasons for revenge but gave up their opportunities for revenge, realizing that killing a person would not bring the ones they lost back. They showed real strength and wisdom, valuing the greater good over revenge and striving for more meaningful things in their lives. Also, it is incredibly satisfying when they kicked ass and brought the bad guys down either by strategy and ability to anticipate or by pure physical takedowns.
The story started strong with impressive choreography in the Cuju game, and it hit you from the get-go immediately with intrigue and events. I like the references to the Art of War and military strategies. Each episode kept up the pace, never lost the momentum, and just got better and better. I never felt tempted to skip, and many scenes were so impactful that I would rewatch them just so I could appreciate the gestures, micro-expressions and the words again.
I like the sismance, bromance, and the lack of tiresome third parties or love triangles. My favourite aspect of the show is the emphasis on wholesome masculinity and strong female characters. Both ladies and men shone in this show, and there was a lot of support and respect for one another.
- Cinematography
Visually, musically, aesthetically - The story pulled one in so deeply, using music, timing, rhythm, and even pregnant pauses to keep things engaging and emotional from the get-go. The cinematography was impressive, with close-up shots of details, gestures, and facial expressions that only enhanced the watching experience. The sets were nicely done, and they even recreated the grassland from scratch and filmed real outdoor scenes. The locations were beautiful. Then there were the gorgeous costumes - wait until you see Ashile Sun in his General uniform and ChangeGe in her Tang and Mobei princess outfits.
Some editing could be better, especially during the transitions between manhwa and reality, but I like the director mixing media. It keeps things different and captures certain moods more effectively through graphics than acting, especially the battle scenes where horses were hurt. It also paid homage to the manhwa artist.
- Choreography
The directing and acting for the game, archery scenes, and the close-up combats were done so superbly and were of such high quality. Using space and the right moments to deploy the slow-motion effect, the director heightened the scenes' anticipation and intensity. They reminded me of the highly stylized action sequences by John Woo. When paired with the most fitting sound and music as well as thoughtful camera angles, all I can say is WOW! I love seeing Leo Wu as A'Sun kick - so gratifying! And the others didn't pale in comparison either.
- Romance
A slow burn for our main OTP, but it was such a satisfying journey to watch them. This couple paired so well, with both of them being such tsundere characters. Their conversations and unspoken thoughts, glances and stares, smiles and gestures - the closer they were drawn to each other, the bigger the rush of adrenaline for me. Their love was the kind that seeped into my heart, made it flutter, and it almost exploded when Sun started pursuing ChangGe more boldly. There's a hilarious scene of the moment he realized that ChangeGe was his 'beloved'. To quote @Dragnelia: Find yourself a man who would LOVE YOU so intensely without knowing what LOVE IS!
What I love the most though was not the chase and drama of ChangeGe finally opening up to Sun as much as their ability to bring out the best in each other. They complemented each other and reveled in each other's strengths and uniqueness. When conflict entered the plot that kept them apart, it was not a test of whether it will break them up but more of a testament that their relationship was healthy enough to adapt and overcome. They were partners through and through.
ChangGe is my favourite type of female lead. Incredibly intelligent yet youthfully naive, feminine yet strong, noble yet down to earth, and boy, did she have an extremely high pain tolerance! Charismatic Sun fascinated me. He was an excellent counterpart to ChangGe, matching her in wit, perceptiveness, and resourcefulness. The way Ashile Sun silently supported our FL and discerned the best way to motivate her added an extra level of swoon-worthiness. I like that the story had him discover early that ChangGe was a girl, and you could tell the moment he started caring for her. Sun could not believe that such an extraordinary girl could exist. From that first attraction, he has been looking out for her.
All other dramas should use these two as prototypes as they genuinely raised the standards for ideal male and female leads.
I also liked the secondary couple a lot - Hao Du and Le Yan. Even though their relationship was based on the "sweet soft princess and cold guard" trope, I was rooting for Hao Du all the way.
- Cast
The drama is a visual feast for the eyes; be it the main leads or supporting cast, it's good looks galore.
Lucky for us audience, this show got it right with the casting, and some pairings just work. Dilireba and Wu Lei have the "it" factor, and their chemistry is incredible on-screen and off-screen! I highly recommend watching the BTS clips; you'll understand why this OTP is so adored and why so many wanted Wu Lei's first on-screen kiss to be with Reba. Reba is one of my favourite Chinese actresses, and when compared to her last drama before 'The Long Ballad', I can say that her acting has improved yet again. She was never bad to me, but her ability to emote, especially during the crying scenes, became better. She is as beautiful as ever, and she really fits her character.
Leo emotes well with his facial expressions and eyes. He can pull off the cold and indifferent look but using just his eyes; he can convey worry and fear, care and love. He's seriously so hot as Ashile Sun that he should graduate from being the Nation's Little Brother to one of the Nation's Male Gods (Nan shen). His acting was excellent here, and he truly deserves awards for some of his scenes.
Zhao Lusi is another great actress, and when paired with Liu Yu Ning, they also lit up the screen. Liu Yu Ning did an amazing job portraying an anti-hero, so antagonistic, but his actions belied his seemingly cold manner. Lusi managed to make LeYan stand out and portrayed her character development so well.
As for Alen Fang's Wei Shu Yu, his character wasn't as admirable as his lead role in Love By Hypnotic, but he looked good no matter what. Plus, his acting has also become better.
The entire cast did so well, and there were such good chemistry and rapport among them. At one point, I was shipping LeYan and ChangGe together because their relationship was just on fire!
- OST and Sound Effects
The OSTs are on another level and are very fitting, with appropriate pieces underscoring the scenes; both starting and ending songs set the dramatic and emotional tone that was infused throughout the show. I also love that whenever there was a poignant scene between Hao Du and LeYan, the background song was the one sung by Liu Yu Ning. That man can sing, and I am a fan now of him and Zhou Shen. In addition to the music, the sound effect team must also be commended. They did a stellar job bringing the show to life so effectively.
Overall, "The Long Ballad" nailed it in every aspect for me. This is one series that I will rewatch in a heartbeat. I've already watched it multiple times. While I waited for the new subbed episodes to air, I watched the unsubbed version, and I will watch the entire series again completely subbed. That's how much I enjoyed it.
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This review may contain spoilers
A story of growth
I was interested in The Long Ballad because of, you guessed it, Dilireba. I wanted to see her portrayal of the boyish princess Li Chang Ge, which is such a contrast to her last role Bai Fengjiu, but I did not expect to have come across a marvelous drama. The Long Ballad does not center around romance, although it is there, it is a story of personal growth, of maturing and growing up, and of realizing what's more important than revenge.Let's start with what I, personally, love about this drama and there are so many things to talk about. First of all, the English title. Now, this is very personal, I know, but I appreciate how they did not just decide on something like "The legend of Chang Ge" because crappy English titles happen A LOT and there are so many "The legend of ..." drama title in the Chinese dramaland that I already got tired keeping count of. If you have watched enough Cdramas, you may have come across a few. The English title really suits the story and the theme of the drama. At first read, you can already tell that the plot will be about a long journey to, perhaps, find oneself of our protagonist. A more important thing that makes this drama worth watching though, was the character development, not only for Chang Ge but for all the supporting characters as well. The growth arcs of all the characters felt very satisfying and inspiring with (spoiler alert) Chang Ge valuing the peace of her country over revenge, Ashile Sun finally decided to live his life by his own rules, Le Yan being grateful for her extravagant status as the Tang's princess after experiencing hardships of the common people and, my personal favorite, the heart-warming growth in bromance between the two sons of the Ashile Tribe and more. Moreover, the villains in this story felt, to me, very convincing. Some of them I can not be label as "villains" for their motives to do whatever they did felt logical to me because of their own pasts and stories. Instead of hating on these "antagonists", I can rather sympathize with them, especially the evil, scheming Khatun who showed Chang Ge what she would have become if she did not give up her revenge. There are so many things about this drama that you would love other than what I mentioned, such as the sizzling chemistry of the second lead couple (the love story of a big wolf and a cute bunny), the beautifully choreographed fight scenes, the superbly produced soundtracks which I have played on repeat for at least 5 times a day, the bonds and relationships between each character (especially the fatherly love between the Tang emperor and Chang Ge) or, perhaps, you may also fall in love with the handsome alpha male boyish prince Ashile Sun, portrayed by Wu Lei.
Side note: I watched this drama for Dilireba but ending up falling for Wu Lei. Lol.
However, every drama has its own shortcomings and this one is not an exception. Something that really annoyed me was how they replaced some important, highly-anticipated war scenes with comics - cheaply made comics. This strategy did reduce the production budget but there were mixed opinions from its viewers and I am certainly on the negative side. It did not live up to the intensity that the plot built and was rather confusing for me. In addition, the lead couple's chemistry felt like a brotherhood or a sibling relationship rather than a romantic bond, if not for all the romance scenes. At times, it does spark some butterflies in my stomach but other times I did not buy it. Moreover, the "kissing" scene was a major disappointment. Like many viewers, I prefer the second lead's story, which got me screaming like a madman, over the lead couple. Lastly, BIG SPOILER ALERT, the ending was a bit unsatisfying. Although it did wrap everything nicely and conclude all the characters' stories - unlike The Rebel Princess *insert heavy sigh* - it still feels a bit rushed. Apparently, some scenes that were filmed for the ending were cut out which explains why.
All in all, the plot of this drama about growing up, coming of age, and maturing did resonate with me a lot. It was a beautifully made drama with good acting and plot. Was it one of the best dramas I've ever watched though? Almost there, but not quite. Still, if you like dramas with the themes I mentioned and want to watch a good overall drama then you should give this a try. I'd definitely rewatch it when I have time.
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大道无为 (Dàdào wúwéi) For The Noble Deeds
Since “Nirvana In Fire”, I have dreaded watching a grown-up Wu Lei (he was only 15/16 in Nirvana In Fire) because I fear his grown up image may ruin my fond memory of the juvenile Wu Lei as the Fei Liu (Nirvana In Fire) character. To my pleasant surprise, Wu Lei has grown up into a fine young man with a chiseled good look. Together with Dilraba who doesn’t seem like an ideal partner in the beginning, this drama has taken me by surprise and totally out of my expectation.Adapted from a manhua (comic), the story begins at the Xuanwu Gate incident in 626 during the Tang Dynasty when Li Shimin assassinated his brother the Crown Prince, Li Jiancheng, and his younger brother, Prince Li Yuanji, and later became the emperor (Emperor Taizong) himself. This story is based on real historical events and people, interjected with fictional characters and incidents. The story is captivating, nail-biting and well told. The fictional parts fit in perfectly with the actual historical events.
Li Changge is a fictional character whose father was the Crown Prince assassinated by Li Shimin. She vows revenge. Her quest takes her through the plains to the steppes. She meets friends and foes. She loses ones she loves and meets new ones. Ultimately, she finds the love of her life whom she would sacrifice everything to be with.
Both Dilraba and Wu Lei were not on my favorite actor list. I also didn’t think very highly of the matching of the couple. I was so wrong. Here in this drama, both are amazing, in their acting and their styling. As Li Changge, Dilraba is strong, tough, decisive and strategic without the cringe-worthiness which I have always associated her with. The two strands of her hair become her trademark and is very pleasant to watch but criticized by some viewers. Whether dressed as a man or as a girl, Dilraba is beautiful and her acting is convincing. Wu Lei has an aura of a man with few words but a lot goes through his mind at every instant. As Ashile Sun, he’s extremely charismatic and authentic, looking stunning in tribal costumes with braids on horseback, fearsome and stunning in war helmet. With Li Changge, their chemistry is wonderful and reassuring.
My Verdict
I love all the characters, friends or foes. Each has a story and the cast is well selected. The acting is convincing and authentic. Some scenes can be heart wrenching and tear jerking. The pace is just right with actions and connivance packed for every episode, making the whole drama irresistible to watch. And the OSTs are some of the best.
Everything looks good until the fighting comes. The substitution of expensive scenes (such as wars) with cheap manhua blemishes this wonderful drama. For me, it hasn’t diminished my pleasure and would have given this a 10/10 had it not been the little blemish.
An absolutely wonderful drama. Highly recommended!
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This review may contain spoilers
a quasi-historical fictional series with strong imaginative storytelling
this series borrows certain elements from real history and historical figures, but is not about the reiterating of history and historical figures. it is very much more of creative story writing and imaginations and the re-imagining of. it is absolutely not about wuxia or martial arts and the pugilistic world. it is more about the variety of political intrigues, circumstantial developments in relation to politics, causes and effects, and romance, and human relations. occasionally the series can feel long-winded (beat-round-the-bush), nevertheless, story telling is one of the series's core strengths.many of the supporting actors stand out in this series, probably because they are experienced, perform their best, and they are guided/mentored professionally. the actor who performs Li Changge has more dramatic role and performances in the earlier dozen of episodes, and progresses to become a character that matures and grows up (emotionally and psychologically). i feel the female actor's performances are more noteworthy during the earlier dozen of episodes. in comparison, the main male actor performs in a consistent manner, but there are segments where he performs stronger.
chemistry-wise, i feel that the chemistries between Changge and Leyan, and Hao Du and Leyan are more enjoyable. for some reasons, the chemistry between Li Changge and Asule Sun feels lacking.
i think the director and whoever is/are involved in guiding/mentoring help bring out the best in capturing the actor who performs the role of the princess Li Leyan. it makes the character more believable and endearing. the actor also performs her role excellently. i dare say she has what it takes to be a leading actor in CDrama and films, as she has a lot more to offer than just a pretty/cute face.
it is also worthwhile to note the involvement of several young actors in the series. i believe that the producer and/or director see strong potentials and/or future potentials with some of these young actors. it is really a treat to see talented young actors being groomed, and to see their acting potentials even though they are still rough around the edges.
the quality of the cameras used for shooting this series is definitely good. the shot techniques are also good. although there might be short segments that employ redundant/superfluous camera techniques, there are also numerous camera techniques that are big screen quality. there are many beautiful building architecture and interior designs and props. you can definitely observe many nice trinkets and props that accompany the beautiful costumes. the costumes have intricate designs, motifs, and sewing quality. it is a good thing that the ornaments/trinkets that accompany the costumes appear believable and in harmony. i cannot comment on the accuracy of the ornaments, buildings designs, costume designs, behavioral etiquette in this series in parallel to early Tang Dynasty era.
the implementation of the CGIs are also not excessive, and i think they compliment the series as a whole. this includes the decision, the arrangement and the editing of comic-like animations to enhance the story telling. the team in charge of the background music/sound arrangement/selection should be complimented, as i think they did an excellent job. it is unfortunate that the team in charge of the voice dubbing is not as good as the team in charge of the background sound/music.
i especially enjoy the weaving workshop scenes. this segment has a common backdrop involving common folks, but it enhances the story telling of the series. another notable mention is the tragedy/ordeals experienced by the princesses. it is simply amazing that the two princesses do not experience or suffer severe post traumatic depression or mental breakdown due the repeated pain, despair, disappointment, anger, hatred, and humiliations.
//after thought//
maybe because i just finished watching Word of Honor before this series, so when I found out there is the character Li Changqian (crown prince of Li Shimin), i was half-expecting to see whether there is a sub-plot development revealing/hinting Li Changqian as a homosexual. of course it doesn't, as the character is portrayed in his adolescent years.
//turnoffs//
- the most noticeable issue with this series is that the voice dubbing is not often synchronized well. it is possible that there are dialogues spoken by the actors that have been altered in the voice dubbing.
- there are scenes/segments that do not make much good sense, and there are some scenes/segments with small flaws that could have been avoided. for example, the little girl (Gongsun Heng's daughter) who got lost and blow the whistle so loudly, which doesn't make any good sense.
- the interior designs of the sets can often appear too symmetrical, too neatly arranged and too clean.
- another issue with this series that might not be too noticeable is that there are certain segments/plots that don't make much sense when taking considering the dangers and chaos of the surrounding environment during these early period of the Tang Dynasty.
- one of the major turnoffs in this series is the overapplication of whitening makeup. for example, there are segments where the application of thick whitening makeup on the main actor who plays Li Changge is excessive and unnatural. she is already beautiful and fair, and makeup should only be applied on her to enhance her natural beauty instead of drowning/masking her natural beauty. there are several instances of other actors whose face had been applied whitening makeup too excessively, too.
- i do understand that it is for that dramatic aspect in story-telling of a tragic character, but the decision to make the Princess Yicheng character as the main antagonist in the latter half of the series is a major turnoff for me.
- the usage, placement and acting of the extras are good, but there are instances where the rationale of the spectators placement/directing can be inconsistent/unbelievable. though not frequent, there are extras that do not act as instructed.
- the quantity and positions of the lanterns/lamps can sometimes be unbelievable, considering the efforts to lower/raise the lanterns/lamps, to light the fire, and how realistic is it to light/place certain lanterns in certain locations, etc.
- there are a few sets that don't fit the logic, for example, an outdoor battle camp that comes with lavish set decorations which made it unrealistic/unbelievable.
- sometimes, the rationale to light up so many candles during daytime and at certain segments can be questionable and become more of a distraction.
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LONG and repetitive... but good:)
Do you like historical dramas with lots of conspiracies, power struggles and epic battle scenes? Then this is the one for you.Let’s start by saying the production is very good. The cinematography, the costumes, the sets... all very well done. The music background and OST is very memorable and well-suited with the characters and story. The actors all portrayed their roles very well, with a few annoying characters and typical Chinese hahaha evil laughs. Wu Lei who plays the male lead Ashile Sun imo carried the whole drama. He’s only 21, so him portraying this character was amazing. He’s definitely one actor to keep an eye out for. Plus he’s also very good looking ;) and yes there is a shirtless scene;);) Lol.
As with all too-many-episodes dramas (this has 49!!) the storyline became repetitive. Every 5+ episodes there will be an introduction to a new town, new characters, new problems... but same ol’ greed for power. It can get rather confusing with so many different names.. unfortunately towards episode 30+ I started skipping forward. The plot is predictable- you know who will die, when they will die, and the good guys usually outsmart the bad guys. Haha...
The last episode was DISAPPOINTING. many characters and side plots were left unfinished, and of course the main couple love story did not have a great ending. It was a happy one, but no great epilogue. It is true there is hardly any skinship... there are lots of hugs✔️, intensity✔️ and chemistry✔️, but no kiss ;) You do get a great view of two birds kissing though lol. BUUUUTT, this was way better than One and Only.
Another character I liked was Hao Du, how he evolved from being a goody-two-shoe always following instructions but not using his common sense- to learning to think for himself, sacrificing himself and fighting for the woman he loves!
The fight scenes are the best!! Well choreographed with lots of Kung fu style movements and intensity. There’s also a legendary football match in Epi 1, which is fantastic how they set it in ancient times and infused martial arts into it. What I didn’t like was most of the huge battle scenes were shown using anime... I don’t know why it was done that way. I read maybe it had something to do with Covid restrictions at that time.. or maybe time or financial constraints.
All in all, a definite recommended watch although I hoped it could have been better. :)
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This review may contain spoilers
Patchy Storyline saved by Good looking Actors, Good Acting Skills & Stunning Cinematography
I'm sorry to leave a not-so-glowing review for this drama as I really looked forward to watching it because of the featured cast. The story is meant to show how the lead character, Li Chang Ge, a Princess and daughter of the Crown prince, suffers the hardship of witnessing her father being murdered by her Uncle and her mother committing suicide because of a political coup, flees away in anger vowing to take revenge for the sake of her family and country, but eventually realises that seeking revenge was the not best way to truly find peace and contentment in Life because seeking revenge by instigating a political rebellion against her Uncle would (1) not resurrect her dead parents from the past (2) and just incur more internal wars that would cost the lives of more innocent bystanders (3) weaken the country's abilities to defend itself from its real enemies- the neighbouring Ashina and Mobei Tribes.I really think the scriptwriters wanted The Long Ballad to be a different kind of Revenge Drama, where instead of purely avenging one’s loved ones by resorting to the same (underhanded) methods that one’s loved ones had been subjected to, the Protagonist would find their own form of redemption by focusing on a more noble non-self-serving goal instead of taking the destructive path of anger-fuelled revenge. To forgive, let go and find more constructive ways to deal with life's setbacks etc...in contrast to the opposing Antagonist of the story, who seeks revenge and does things none the wiser. After all, that is why we are meant to admire the Protagonist as a positive role model in these sort of Revenge Dramas right?
But if that was meant to be the intended purpose for the audience who view this drama The Long Ballad, I felt that the juxtaposition was poorly built up and came a little too late. I will elaborate more on this later.
Li Chang Ge is written as the charming intelligent female Protagonist of the story who has her character strengths and weaknesses and is supposed to go through some character growth throughout the story and emerge as a more mature heroine with positive traits for us to look upon and admire. I get that. Except that I did felt that the scripted storyline displayed her positive strengths too fast and too soon, to the point Li Chang Ge struck me as a character who had it too good, and I found it too unbelievable to be true.
For eg. I am amazed that Li Chang Ge never seems to die despite being shot by multiple people in the same side of her chest (always seems to be the right side of her chest above the heart) multiple times! Also, I'm not convinced how quickly Li Chang Ge manages to persuade Shui Zhou's Governor, Gongsun Heng to recruit her in as his trusty advisor. To get the level of insider access to the state's top secrets just by saving his wife and daughter in an "accidental" encounter and to be promoted overnight to become the city's military commander by just providing mere advisory words of consulting strategy, to me is just laughingly unbelievable! The way Li Chang Ge gets picked up and ordained overnight as a sworn disciple of the eccentric Swordsman Situ Lang Lang is too coincidentally convenient, he just met her whilst saving her and immediately he trusts her? And how quickly her lover Ashile Sun forgives her after her impulsiveness caused his adopted mother to fall prey at the hands of his evil step brother. No break up or cool off period after she makes such a costly mistake on him? Maybe Ashile Sun’s long-suffering forbearance as a character makes him too good as Li Chang Ge’s lover to be true! Lol
I know this is a drama, but it's a little sometimes too stretched from reality. But back to what I think was the key weakness of this Revenge drama…
I felt that the script writers could have introduced Princess Yicheng earlier and give the audience more backdrop and time to understand how this Sui Dynasty Princess came to be the most unsuspected sinister villain in the story. Many of the malicious schemes that she came up with to eliminate rivals who stood between her and the Empire, were not elaborated sufficiently enough through the lack of scenes, so understanding what she had done and had sought to do, was not easy to follow and to me, came across rather far-fetched. They should take a reference from Nirvana in Fire's strategist Mei Chang Su hahaha. His schemes were intricate and complex but at the bare minimum, they were at least understandable and brilliant.
Acting wise, Leo Wu did not disappoint. I thought that he has carried the role of the intelligent and valiant commander, Ashile Sun, very well for his age (21 years I believe?) even when he stood against an older female actress, Dilraba (27 years old then)whom I thought embodied Li Chang Ge's clever, courageous but impulsive character pretty convincingly. I'm sorry, I did not end up paying much attention to the second lead couple Hao Du and Le Yan although I know many other reviewers raved about how their enemies-to-lovers romance storyline was one of the memorable highlights of this drama. Leo and Dilraba’s acting skills and couple chemistry was the key thing that saved this drama for me.
I wish some parts of the storyline could be rushed and given more space to be more cohesive and developed, even if it means cutting out side characters and their story arcs. If not for these plot-holes that left me feeling skeptically unconvinced, I'd give this easy-to-watch drama a much much higher rating.
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Epic Main Plots throughout the series and a second-lead couple that makes you fall hard for!
As a long ancient drama series, it has one of the best 50-episode plots that hypes you up throughout, the whole drama was a climax, never a dull moment! If surrounds a bravery and smart female lead whose family was murdered and as she escaped, she formed allies and seek to find revenge for her family. The whole drama was full of thrilling scenes that make you tensed up from time to time, but do not expect a massive production as some epic scenes were replaced with animated graphics (comic-style). Not sure if it was to save budget, I would say it's a pretty smart move to save cost while keeping the storyline, but couldn't deny the fact that it does look a bit anti-climax... Another anti-climax part will probably be their kissing scenes, when you had high hopes but there are none, only the side cameo couples had it; although I saw somewhere that the director is trying out some special way to show a kiss scene... but I don't really buy it and honestly it disappoints a little. However these don't really affect much on how I grade this drama in overall as the other parts of the drama were pretty good:)CAST! When I saw the starring casts list, immediately I clicked! But unlike other dramas with terrible storyline and solely based on the fame of the stars, this series definitely did justice to the casting lineup, worth chasing for! All the casts were pretty good, not just visually good but great performance too, Leo Wu being exceptionally impressive! I noticed him since Nirvana in Fire, which I believe it's the same for most of the viewers too. It shocks me seeing how FINE he has grown up to be and not to say his unquestionably stunning performance and acting skills in the drama. Cool, cute, charismatic and physical body shape, he has it all, literally being one of the most charming generals! Actresses wise, Dilraba was visually perfect for the role, she does look like someone that walks out from the comic book, but in terms of acting, I prefer Zhao Lu Si, as I'm impressed on her crying scenes, natural yet heartbreaking; although she has been crying almost every episode in the first half of the drama HAHA but she looks pretty cute still, guess she really fits the role! Liu Yu Ning was a hidden gem, never thought this King of OST is appearing in an ancient drama series, and honestly he has stolen all the attention and my love for the drama mainly for his adorable matching with Zhao Lu Si; although he wasn't the best acting actor but he's absolutely my favourite role in the drama! Among the 5 main roles, I would say Alen Fang's role is the most unfavourable one. He wasn't a villain actually but he was pretty much a coward in the whole drama, was supposed to be a big brother of the female leads but ended up protecting none of them. I would say luckily this role had Alen Fang's fine visual, so I could actually bear with his cowardice a little...
On top of the 5 main roles, I would say their cameo roles that come along there throughout the series are very much to my liking too, as a subordinate, a brother, a friend, a disciple, a master, a general, they were all very LOYAL and contributed to the success of the fight; although the screening time were very much lesser, but I love them too!
Encountered so many cheesy and boring side couples in other C-drama series, I never had high expectation on the second couple. BUT FINALLY, is the very first time I fell in love with second lead couple more than the main ones, and FELL SO HARD: Hao-Yan Couple, a love story of a Big Bad Wolf and a Little Rabbit!! It's fascinating how the cold-blooded killer got warmed by the pure-hearted princess and started being such a nerdy sweetheart, their story only started in the second half but it was more than enough scenes to capture viewers' hearts! So better don't drop the drama halfway or you'll miss out a lot here! That's one part I never get enough of and can rewatch it again and again!
In terms of production, it's a 9 out of 10. I find it a bit lacking in terms of fighting or war scenes, not as many as expected, it's a shame as I know Leo Wu was always taking martial lessons but he wasn't really able to show off that much in this drama as he was always on his horse haha! But when he does in those few scenes, you know he pulls off VERY WELL! Besides the fighting part, to emphasize, I would proudly say they had the BEST DRAMA OSTs!! What a powerful sound track that gives you all the goosebumps, I love all the songs so much, can't even name one to be my top favourite because they were all so good, and as the drama has ended, I can only immersed myself of reminiscing the series with the OSTs!
Honestly while some people were cheering for second season, I find it just nice for only one season, but I'm hoping to see more great dramas like this coming up this year and hope to see the casts reunited in other series sometime in the future! :)
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Deeper than it looks!
OVERALLWhile not perfect, this drama is definitely high quality! Watch it if 1) you're looking for a smart and strong FL, 2) you like to see dramas centered on character growth, or 3) you have a thing for dramas that show some depth and complexity. If you 1) suffer from ML bias (always siding with the male lead), 2) are looking for some love action, and 3) want to see lots of fight scenes, maybe put this drama aside...and reconsider it later. It's worth a try!
THE STORY
The synopsis of The Long Ballad is very misleading. First, it makes it look like the story is about revenge. IT'S NOT (most of the time). If you expect a revenge story, you will be disappointed. Secondly, the summary makes it look like FL and ML are going to team up the entire drama. THAT'S NOT TRUE. In fact, I would say most of the time they're working AGAINST each other. Basically, The Long Ballad is the story of two super patriotic characters, from two nations at war with one another, who struggle between their personal goals/feelings on one side and the greater good of their nation on the other (just like a Romeo and Juliet story). This means that for part of the drama, FL and ML are EACH doing things that have negative consequences for the other, until they somewhat find ways to neither betray their personal desires nor betray their people. I came across some critiques of the drama that seem to be due to misunderstanding what it's about. If you can see TLB for what it is and you are not prone to ML bias, you will surely appreciate it!
The Good: The best thing about TLB is the amount of character growth in the drama. Out of four main leads (the OTP and the secondary couple), three of them transform over the course of the series - only ML doesn't (or he does, but it's subtle). The secondary leads go through rather conventional/predictable growth, but FL goes through the kind of slow transformation that causes plans to get dropped and goals to change, and that's realistic. That's life. I loved it. Another great thing about TLB is the character contrasts. FL and 2nd FL are both strong by the end of the series, but one in a boyish way and one in a feminine way. ML and 2nd ML both learn to break away from their dad's influence in different ways too. TLB is about diversity and I appreciate that, especially in the relationship department. Have you ever heard of love languages or attachment styles? It feels like dramas always show the same kinds of love. Well, not in TLB. Here we get on one side the sizzling awkwardness between Changge and Sun, two aloof people who just don't know how to be together (especially her), and on the other side, the cute and romantic love story of 2nd FL and ML. Other great aspects of the drama include the pace, which only really slows down once (and it quickly picks up again), the bit of mystery thrown in, because we don't know some secret regarding the coup and only find out about it much later, and the respect and equality between Changge and Sun. Compared to other dramas in which the guy will often end up being the rescuer and smarter one of the two, here we see that they mutually show smarts and help each other. There're also a lot of emotional scenes in the series, a few lines that make you think, nice visuals...There's honestly a lot to like about this drama. Plus, it's totally binge material!
The Bad: The worst thing about TLB, and probably the only flaw I really had trouble swallowing, is the fact that many action scenes are animated rather than shown in live action. It's an aesthetic choice, I don't think it had anything to do with money or COVID, but it just didn't sit right for me. Some of these scenes were supposed to be epic, and turning them into animation just took the epicness away. Luckily, the drama doesn't do this for ALL action scenes, and it's not so bad that you want to drop the show. Apart from this, I wasn't bothered by much in the drama but I have to say there are plot holes here and there, which may bother those who are picky about these. Also, the ending is a bit of a let down. Not the worst out there, not incoherent or bad, but it's not super satisfying; it feels rushed and incomplete.
THE ACTING
Pretty good! I liked Dilraba more than Leo in this one. It was my first time seeing her and I was impressed! She has a way of making a character strong but also vulnerable. Leo was great too though, it's just that the character doesn't allow him a lot of versatility in acting. You could see he had more potential in the few emotional scenes he had. The main OTP's romance isn't very expressive (kisses, hugs, cringey lines and the likes), but Leo and Dilraba still manage to make you feel the chemistry in the stares and moments they have together. The secondary couple has more conventional romance scenes and the two characters do look cute together, even if I didn't feel too much chemistry between them. I have no complaints regarding the rest of the cast, except maybe one of the villains's acting that felt a bit cliché.
THE MUSIC
This drama's music really stands out, and it feels SO great! It really makes wonders when the production actually invests in a good music director to make sure not only the song but even the instrumentals slay. My favorite OST is Dingding's If you Come Back. Still listening to it regularly!
REWATCH VALUE
Very high. I watched it two times within a month of my first watch, and watched it again just now, about three months later. Pretty sure this won't be the last!
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Character driven drama with amazing story line.
A very interesting story of Li Shi Min's reign of the Tang Dynasty. If you are familiar with the history, it added to the enjoyment, knowing some real-life characters and how LSM started to unite/conquer many lands.Story:
It started with the journey of Li Changge in her revenge but it became the journey of the characters for self-growth. Even the antagonist got their own stories and I pitied them at the end. Maybe the flaws that I can comment on is sometimes it feels like it was a shortcut to how they resolved the problems. Maybe because of the number of episodes. But nevertheless, it was enjoyable and exciting to watch.
Acting/Cast:
They chose the best actors that can portray the characters. Well done team!
Changge- Dilraba was so fit in the role of a strong and independent woman. In the middle, really hated her attitude and almost dropped this but I'm glad that I gave it a 2nd look because she became a matured princess and warrior. Looking forward to Reba getting this kind of role again.
Asun-Ahh.. My boy Feli Liu has grown up. A manly, strong, and capable guy. He really acted well how Asun must be.
Leyan- Lu Si perfectly portrayed the cried princess turning into a very brave and inspiring princess of Tang. She got the best character growth. Her sufferings and experienced from the journey made her strong and understand the people of Tang.
Hao Du- My newly discovered gem in the c-drama world. I cannot put into words how much I love this guy. A cold, arrogant, cold-blooded killer wolf but with a tender and kind heart behind that sullen look. What I love about this guy is his micro expression which is best for this kind of role. He conveys his feelings with that eyes. No need for big gestures. His character was so well written that most of us were rooting for him to have a happy ending. He's my favorite character. Great job Liu Yu Ning!!
The others did a great job esp. A Dou, Li Shi Min, Du Ru Hui, Li Jing(although I wanted to have more screen time for him), Situ Lang Lang, Mu Jin,She Er, and many many more.
Song :
It's a perfect 10 for me. Never skip the OP and ED song. All the ost and soundtrack were cool and amazing. Cannot complain.
Overall I really enjoyed TLB and I can see myself rewatching it. I laugh and cried. The first time that I am active in the comment section. Everyone was excited and I love to share my insights and feelings in every episode.
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