Sidneylandsam

Started watching for the looks. Let’s be real — especially for Song Weilong. I first discovered him in Untouchable Lovers. That drama was a mess (capital M, double S), but somehow, he still caught my attention. AND he’s ridiculously good-looking, so here we are.

Also heard a lot about Angelababy, and this was my first time watching her in action. Wow. Just… wow. I clearly haven’t missed much.

Now, about the actual drama. It’s called Everlasting Longing, but I’m 20 episodes in, and I keep asking myself: IS THE LONGING IN THE ROOM WITH US??? Because I sure don’t feel it.

Their interactions are so stiff, I’m starting to wonder if they filmed their scenes separately and just edited them together later. The male lead? Oh, he’s very intentional about his feelings. He’s laying it all out — fighting for her, making sacrifices, practically bending over backwards to make this relationship work. And the female lead? Well, she’s there. Existing. She’s allowing herself to be loved, which is nice, I guess? But where’s the yearning? The heartbreak? The inner turmoil?

ML is giving us conflicted but passionate lover fighting against fate while FL is giving us… mildly interested observer. I wanted to see in her face, in her eyes, the same struggle between love and duty that he’s clearly going through. Instead, it feels like she’s just going along with it because, well, why not?

And let’s talk about how both ML and FL are constantly described as the most intelligent people in the room. Yet somehow, neither of them have developed a single interpersonal skill. Make it make sense.

Oh, and the switching brides at the wedding twist? The most ridiculous thing I have ever witnessed. I don’t even have the words. Well, I do, but they’re mostly just a series of confused and frustrated noises.

But will I keep watching? Of course. Because Song Weilong is an absolute snack, and I’m only human.


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So, I finally finished Everlasting Longing. And sure, it was a happy ending (I guess that’s what it was?), but honestly, I feel like there could have been more — more depth, more emotion, more anything — than what it ultimately ended up delivering.

I understand the whole pudeur in costume dramas; I wasn’t expecting steamy romance or grand displays of passion. But my God, the way they avoided physical contact almost felt like an Olympic sport. They were supposed to be madly in love, but where was the madness? Where was the passion?

I wanted to see that burning desire in their eyes, in their body language, in the way they looked at each other like the world could collapse around them and they wouldn’t notice. Instead, I got long stares that felt more like "Should I say something? No? Okay, I’ll just keep staring." If there was any passion, I clearly missed it—or maybe it was just so subtle that it evaporated before reaching the audience.

If there was any suffering, any heartbreak, any deep, undying love, he was the one showing it. The man was ready to go through fire and brimstone for FL, and yet… did she love him? I guess? Did it show? If it did, I clearly missed it.

The ML’s devotion was never in question — he was all in, fighting battles (literally and figuratively), making sacrifices, constantly proving his love. Meanwhile, the FL? She just sort of existed in the relationship. She wasn’t opposed to his love, but she never truly matched it. I kept waiting for that moment, the one where her emotions would break free, where I’d feel that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. But nope. If there was an ounce of fiery passion in her, it was buried so deep even she couldn’t find it.

This isn’t to say she didn’t love him at all, but love in a romance drama should be felt, not just implied. I wanted to see it in her eyes, in her actions, in the way she responded to his unwavering devotion. Instead, her love felt more like, "Well, if you insist." And for a drama that promised longing, I expected way more than this lukewarm participation.

In the end, did I enjoy watching? I mean… I don’t regret it. But will this be a drama I revisit for its epic love story? Absolutely not. The aesthetics were great, the leads were pretty, but the longing? Let’s just say it never truly left the drafts.

Before I wrap this up, I have to give a special shoutout to Luo Zhizhou. Because let’s be honest — he was gorgeous. Every time he appeared on screen, I momentarily forgot my frustration with the main couple and just appreciated the visual blessing that was Yao Chi.

But it wasn’t just the looks. His portrayal of a clan leader torn between brotherhood and love actually hit. You could feel the weight of his decisions, the pain of betraying a friend, the silent heartbreak of wanting someone he couldn’t have. His conflict with Xuan Lie, his longing for Li Fan Yin. And at this point, I’ll take whatever longing I can get in this drama.

Honestly, if the main love story had even half the emotional depth that Luo Zhizhou carried in his internal suffering arc, I’d be writing a very different review right now.