Everlasting Longing

Could Have Been But Not

So, this is the first historical drama of Song Wei Long that I ever completed. I tried Untouchable Lovers but got bored and dropped it. Acting wise, I still find the emotions lacking from him. Same expressions I've seen him on Go Ahead and Find Yourself. As for Angelababy, I've only seen 3 of her dramas. This is the 3rd. I think she did better in General And I.
Storywise, I got hooked on the first 20 episodes. I'm not a fan of slowburns, but the story of the side characters got me interested. I should say, kisses were well executed by the leads. There are just some instances that are far stretched too long. Like, the FL's playing hard to get of her emotions and ML needs to die first before she finally admits her feelings. Like, WTH, you're carrying his child, yet, still needs to play hard to get. Afterall, she almost died too. Honestly, I felt sad for Qi Min's character. It's not his fault that he fell in love with FL. He was kinda betrayed at his own wedding. And yes, I truly admire how he was honest about his feelings up to the end. I also felt sad for the other side characters. It seems they all loved the wrong person. Thankfully, there's one couple who I find have a sweet fluffy romance....and that's Luo Qi and Xiu Kun.
I like the Father of the Jun's. He was able to raise his daughters well. I'm really not interested in the political aspect of the story, so I won't delve into it further.
Overall, this could have been really a good drama. I enjoyed the humor in some aspects. but, the chemistry of the leads just seem bland. Another thing that I didn't seem like was the the time lapse of 1 year towards the end. I mean, what's the sense of the leads going back together, when in the most crucial moment of your wife giving birth, as a partner, you weren't there. Even talking about having twins, yet, the kids should have an appearance at least.
As for the ending, it didn't gave me a feel good vibe, as a lot of tragedy has happened. And yes, most of the characters didn't get their own HE. Not to mention, most of them have unrequited love.
If you're into a feel good romance, I wouldn't recommend this for a rewatch value. But, if you like Song Wei Long, this drama is for you.

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Will get better the more you watch

This drama is the type that intrigues you and gets you to watch because of the interesting storyline and characters. I haven't finished an angela baby drama in a long time without leaving it unfinished. Maybe the last time I watched her was in a movie. Angela baby acting as a man was a bit forced and unnatural, but maybe that's also due to majority of the audience being used to her acting as a woman. It was a good start as I believe this may have been the first role where she had to pretend to be a man.

As the drama proceeded, maybe after you get in 3-5 episodes, most of the characters are very likeable. Can't say the same for the cousin and his father, but we're supposed to dislike them, so at least their acting was good and they were a good duo. The princess is also very good at responding to rejection and just very funny at times too. Xuan lei and his best friend, they have a very tight friendship & they're both pretty handsome. Xuan lei and angela baby have good chemistry that doesn't feel forced.

I liked how there was a good balance between work, romance, friendships, family, action, & politics among the kingdoms. Relationships were complicated back then and now. They faced societal pressures, familial pressures, responsibilities and duty to their king. It was a lot, so I understand why certain dynamics played the way they did.

Still better than an american movie I watched a couple days ago that was mediocre & too predictable, but didn’t really get me attached to any of the characters or intrigued to get to know the characters more. That's why I prefer the slow build up of asian dramas. There's character development, actual romantic gestures, and actually getting to know one another without doing the deed right away unlike most american movies & shows do back then and till this day.

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An enjoyable watch of everlasting love

The story focusses on Jun Qi Luo,from Yannan,who gets captured by the to be wolf lord of Beixuan,Xuan Lie,who is searching for Jun Fei Fan,Baigong's heir,for resolving the mystery of his parents death 12 years ago.
Angelababy as Jun Qi Luo/Jun feifan, is smart, practical,kind,matured,dedicated,skilled and intelligent woman who is well known for the weapons she designs as Baigong's heir.
Song Weilong as usual,shines as Xuan Lie,who is smart,brave,confident.His love for Qi Luo is undeterring and exceptional!!
How the both of them solve all the difficulties that come their way and pass all the hurdles to be together at the end forms the next part of the story.
The pace is good with very few boring moments.Costumes,sets, locations,all are very pleasant to watch.
All the actors fit their roles perfectly.
Overall it is an enjoyable and a decent watch!!

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Fine

I liked the beginning parts of the drama, but as it moved forward, I started losing interest. The reason might be that I expected more from it. After a few episodes, I found myself more drawn to the second lead's story. I liked their storyline more. I felt bad that he never realized her love for him. Even till the end, he kept calling out his lady’s name, not hers. She did so much for him. Throughout the drama, I kept waiting for their love story to begin. I wanted the drama to end with the first leads getting married and having kids, and the same for the second leads—but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

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The last third ruined it

OVERALL
My headline says it all. Great until roughly ep 18-19, terrible afterwards. Watch it if 1) you're curious to see just how good it was until then and how bad it gets later, 2) you really have nothing else to watch. If none of the above, skip.

THE STORY
The beginning of this drama reminded me a lot of Long Ballad. Not the plot (it's quite different), but the concept; this is essentially a Romeo and Juliet story between two people from opposing nations. I quite liked Long Ballad, so this drama was right up my alley. And it stayed right up my alley for 20 eps because:

- Female lead was exactly as I love them, super smart, super mature, super poised
- Male lead falls quick for female lead, which I enjoy
- Male lead isn't treating her like crap all the time
- They have good banter and exchanges
- They outwit their enemies and each other
- The (female) costumes!

But then the series hits its last third and all hell breaks loose. It's as if they switched writer - or the writer procrastinated and wrote the last ten eps in two hours. Things become repetitive, characters stop making sense, it drags, it drags, it drags, and the drama keeps adding "impossible" challenges to overcome without ever addressing the previous ones. Finally, the last two eps come, and suddenly, magically, all the impossible challenges are no longer impossible, the dragging stops because it has to, and we get a rushed ending that feels totally dissatisfying because 100% forced.

20 eps are more than 10, but the last 10 manage to completely ruin the first 20. I don't think I can recommend this drama to anybody.

THE ACTING
I liked it. I've been tough with Angelababy in the past, but I think her acting was fine here. There was some chemistry with male lead too. Not bad at all! Too bad the writing is so disappointing.

THE MUSIC
No comment.

REWATCH VALUE
Not high.

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Missed opportunity

The plot of the novel gripped me however it introduces several notable changes that distinguish it from the original novel.



Character Development and Dynamics:

Protagonist's Portrayal: In the novel, Jun Qiluo is depicted as a resilient and multifaceted character, balancing her roles with depth and nuance. The drama, however, has faced criticism for its portrayal of Jun Qiluo, particularly concerning the lead actress's performance. Some viewers feel that the on-screen representation lacks the emotional complexity present in the literary version. citeturn0search3

Male Lead's Characterization: Xuan Lie's character in the novel is portrayed as a formidable and authoritative figure. The drama adaptation, however, has been critiqued for altering his persona, presenting him as more emotionally vulnerable, which some fans believe deviates from his original "badass general" image. citeturn0search3

Plot Adjustments:

Narrative Pacing and Structure: The novel's storyline is known for its engaging and well-structured plot. In contrast, the drama has been critiqued for pacing issues, with some viewers noting that certain episodes feel either rushed or overly drawn out, affecting the overall narrative flow. citeturn0search3

Key Plot Modifications: While specific plot details are altered in the drama, to avoid spoilers, it's noted that certain significant events from the novel are either omitted or modified, leading to a different emotional impact and character development trajectory.

Production Elements:

Visual Representation: The drama boasts high production values with elaborate costumes and set designs that bring the historical setting to life. However, some viewers have pointed out inconsistencies in visual effects and cinematography, which occasionally detract from the immersive experience. citeturn0search2

Acting and Performance: The casting choices, particularly for the lead roles, have been a topic of discussion among fans. While the novel allows readers to imagine the depth of characters, the drama's portrayal has received mixed reviews, with some praising the chemistry between leads and others critiquing the emotional delivery. citeturn0search3

In summary, while "Everlasting Longing" strives to bring Xi Juan's beloved novel to the screen, it introduces changes in character portrayals, plot structures, and production choices. These adaptations have led to varied receptions among audiences, with some appreciating the fresh take and others longing for a rendition more faithful to the source material.

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Entertaining and not that bad

Entertaining and enjoyable, though not a good drama. It's also not that bad, some people made it sound like this is the worst thing they've ever seen and it's definitely not that bad, sheesh. A 6.5 overall rating for me isn't actually that bad (I'm someone who has to be thoroughly impressed to give something above a 7).

The special effects/CGI are pretty poor but not distracting. Acting is not that bad. Production quality is decent, costumes are good, and OMG, SONG WEILONG's styling really brings out his rugged handsomeness. For Angelababy, I thought her styling was best in the 2nd half (Yannan styling). Her acting has improved from before and I think she actually did fine as a shrewd businesswoman who carefully considers every move. I thought both of the leads' characters were pretty consistent in their thoughts and actions. You know how we all hate when leads who were logical most of the first half suddenly make dumb, emotional decisions after they fall in love/when the plots needs it, but fortunately this isn't the case here. The FL is always calculated and logical, hesitant and shrewd while still being empathetic; the ML is always more emotional and passionate, acting on impulse and willing to act first and think later. This dynamic is both their ongoing struggle while also being why they balance each other out well.

I found myself binging the first 13 or so episodes, after that I had some trouble staying focused. Some of this is the drama, some of it is honestly my short attention span; even some dramas I really like and watched all the way through, I had to read episode recaps to get a look ahead to see if it was worth investing my time, and I had to do the same here with the politics. I watched the first 15 episodes, after that I read episode caps and then went to different episodes to watch certain scenes played out.

Lost points for anything involving the 2nd branch of the Jun family (literally skipped all of them) and the Jun clan + Yannan side trying to figure out what to do while Jun Feifan is missing/how to find her was skippable. I think it was still important for the story to address though, since it would be a strange gap in logic if the FL was missing for months without showing any worry or consequence from her family and the Yannan side. I just personally wasn't interested in watching it, and I suspect most viewers felt the same way.

Also: skip everything with annoying Princess Xingkou. She's abusive and annoying as hell. Lost points for that too. I liked the actor who played Shao Qin Min though, he did well as being cold in this role while being hilarious in his role as Lu Buping in Hilarious Family; I almost didn't recognize it was the same actor. Hope he gets more roles.

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A Romeo and Juliet story with Angelababy & Song Wei Long

PLOT: The FL, eldest daughter of a wealthy clan of merchants, disguises herself as a man because women are not allowed to participate in business. While traveling, she meets the ML, general of a neighboring (enemy) country. She is looking for black crystal and he is looking for her (her in the male version), to shed light on the death of his parents 12 years earlier. They bond little by little while facing multiple attacks/murder attempts (each of them has their own adversaries).

+++ Great CL with Angelababy & Song Wei Long (both magnificent) (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
+++ Lots of excellent actors, bringing to life complex and well-developed characters (the main ones)
+++ Dynamic production, with beautiful images, realistic fight scenes, beautiful sets and costumes.
+++ superb OSTs

### Low-quality CGI (green background too obvious sometimes, ridiculous tiger and wolves, etc.)
### Lengths in the last third and, above all, the writing loses its coherence (both in terms of the characters' behavior and the dialogue)
### Happy ending but unconvincing (dumb final dialogue).

=> Good series, which could have been excellent if it had been better written!
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Roméo et Juliette avec Angelababy & Song Wei Long

PLOT: La FL, fille aînée d'un clan riche de marchands, se déguise en homme car les femmes n'ont pas le droit de participer aux affaires. En voyage, elle rencontre le ML, général d'une région voisine (ennemie). Elle est à la recherche de cristal noir et il est à sa recherche (elle en version homme) pour éclaircir la mort de ses parents 12 ans + tôt. Ils se lient peu à peu en affrontant de multiples agressions / tentatives de meurtre (chacun a ses adversaires +/- identifiés).

+++ Great CL avec Angelababy & Song Wei Long (magnifiques tous les 2) (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
+++ Bcp d'excellents acteurs, donnant vie à des personnages (les principaux) complexes et bien développés
+++ Réalis° dynamique, avec de belles images, des scènes de combat réalistes de beaux décors et costumes.
+++ superbes OSTs

### CGI low-quality (fond vert trop évident parfois, tigre ridicule, etc.)
### Des longueurs dans le dernier tiers et, surtout, une écriture qui perd de sa cohérence (tant au niveau du comportement des personnages, que des dialogues)
### Happy end mais peu convaincante (dialogue final NUL).

=> Bonne série, qui aurait pu être un TOP si elle avait été mieux écrite !

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Strong first half

I honestly did not expect to like this drama nor finish it. The first half of the drama was interesting and drew me in. The visuals and costumes were great in the first half. ABB and SWL had really good chemistry the first half while they were in Beixuan. However, the latter half of the drama fell short, almost as if they were rushing to complete it. Scenes that were edited out created various plot holes. I felt like I was watching on 1.5x speed even though I did not fast forward. I was too invested to drop it by the time things started going downhill. Did not regret watching it though as I really did enjoy watching the first half just wished it was more consistent.

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not bad as everyone was suggesting

this one is woth watching but along 30 episodes the storyline became boring many times , this series could have been less than 30 episodes and would have been great .

ML and FL were well written but somehow I didn't like FL acting that much

wished we could have seen proper revenge for xuan lies parents but I felt it was a little bit rushed

the 2 kings either king of beixuan or king of yannan were getting on my nerves why can't they let the leads be . their characters are poorly written like beixuan's king wanted war just because It was easier than peace for him I don't know what he was thinking, and yannan's king keep threatning qiluo with her family and at the end I don't know what convinced the 2 king to let the leads be together ,like the were suddenly okay with it ( plot hole?????)

qimin was really annoying , his one sided love for qiluo , why can't he let the leads be kept insisting on marry her even though he knew she didn't love him 😤

qingkou obsession with qimin was too much for me, maybe It became a little better at the end .

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