Kimnanna

The Long Ballad had an interesting premise, and I genuinely enjoyed certain aspects of the story especially how the female lead disguised herself as a man. That part was creative and gave her character strength and depth. Her bond with her uncle even felt more real and emotional than the one with her own father, which added to the complexity of her journey.

However, there were quite a few things that fell short for me.

First off, while the show tried hard to make the lead seem like a man, the red eyeshadow and makeup clearly made her look like a woman which took away from the realism of the disguise. Visually, it didn’t quite convince.

Then there's the princess who got lost that entire subplot dragged far too long. Hao Du's character shift also felt rushed. One moment he's cold and stern, and suddenly he’s soft and romantic with little explanation or transition. It made his development feel unearned.

Another thing I noticed: the creators clearly wanted every side character to find love. And while that works in some dramas, here it felt forced. The connection between Princess Yongning and Ashile Sun, for instance, lacked any real romantic tension. If anything, their relationship felt more political than passionate.

The costumes were another issue. The repetition of outfits was noticeable something that breaks immersion in a historical drama. The wigs often looked fake, and some of the acting felt flat or disconnected. The Queen, in particular, should have had more costume changes to reflect her royal status, but it felt like the production cut corners in that department.

Finally, the ending left too many loose ends. Some plot holes were never addressed, and the resolution felt rushed and unsatisfying after so much buildup.

Overall, while The Long Ballad had a strong foundation and moments of brilliance, the execution especially in costume, character development, and pacing weakened its impact. It could have been great, but it settled for average.