China's top business magazine Caixin interviewed Chang'an producer Lin Ning. According to Caixin, the second web series in Longest Day in Chang'an franchise is tentatively titled "長安二十四时辰" ('48 Hours in Chang'an'). I think 48 hours would give the writers more room to breath if they keep the length of show unchanged. The show is expected to launch in 2021. There is also a feature film coming in 2022 as part of the the Chinese New Year slate(!).
In the Chinese version of the report (paywall), they also announced an animation series. The animation will pick up right after the ending of the Longest Day in Chang'an. The story will be about Ge Lao and the Chang'an underworld.
As some people always complain about everything, they, of course, also complain about "The Longest Day in Chang'an"…
Out of the big three components of storytelling - plot, character and setting - some people just want plot. You know, one Big Thing happens after another. That's why web novels are popular and many people get bored reading traditional literature. There's no cure for that. My advice is for directors to make a plot-centric cut for their shows. If some people don't want to see Li Bi's character growth or understand what made Zhang Xiao Jing and Long Bo who they were, it's their loss.
Was there such a thing as the gigantic lantern way back during the time of this story?
No it's fictional. However, the world's first geared mechanical clock was invented in Chang'an about 20 years before the time of the show. The clock, like the mechanism in the giant lantern, was powered by water. So one can argue similar technology did exist at that time, they just need to be scaled up. BTW, the co-inventor of the clock, the monk Yi Xing will be name-checked later in the show.
I have been watching this drama, but in the last two weeks, the conspiracy has become so convoluted, and at episode…
Before around episode 13 the show was mostly plot-driven, but afterward it gets more and more character-driven, especially after around episode 26 where (from what I've been told) the show began to deviate significantly from the novel. You'll find the second half of the show (or season 2 of the show according to the original plan) less enjoyable if you don't care for the major characters. The second half is more like a serious historical C-drama where the key objective is social/ historical/philosophical discourse.
As for what Long Bo was doing, he's executing his plan. He could proceed leisurely because he was the mover.
Compared with all the trash that gets ratings up to 8 / 8,5 / 9 this would deserve a 20 to make the difference…
From the cover story on the latest issue of Variety:
'This summer’s breakout series is the Tang dynasty-set thriller “The Longest Day in Chang’an,” a 48-episode show on streaming service Youku that fans say offers “an excitement that used to only be possible in American TV series,” thanks to its slick production values. Each episode ranges between 30 and 50 minutes. Amazon Prime Video has picked up the series, which also stars Djimon Hounsou (“Amistad”), for international markets.'
'For years, Chinese television has been bogged down by the need to bring investors rapid returns, keeping shoots short and production values low. The lengthy, bothersome and unpredictable censorship process makes producers prone to “add water” to their shows — that is, stretch out a 20-episode script to 60 or 70 episodes with product placements and pointless digressions — in order to get their money’s worth.'
'That’s changing, says Liang Chao, a producer of “The Longest Day in Chang’an.” “Now the remaining investors have sobered up and realize that good content is the only path forward,” Liang says. “The industry can’t keep on feeding audiences crap, because then they’ll think that only crap tastes good and won’t know how to recognize a steak if you suddenly feed them one. We have to keep giving them steak so they’ll know to throw the crap away.” '
The series finale was shown in movie theaters across 12 Chinese cities. The production company announced they're making another drama set in Chang'an based on Ma Boyong's work. As Ma doesn't have another Chang'an novel, it's likely an original script. Cao Dun will direct, and Lei Jia Yin and Reyizha will reprise their roles.
I just hope there could be a crowdfunded project to show the entire series in movie theaters, perhaps over two days. I would gladly fly to China over a weekend to watch the show and hang out with fellow Chang'an fans.
Just finished watching the finale. I think the show ended on a high note. Loved the end credit song too. This is a true return to form for Chinese TV/web series industry. Rivaling or even surpassing the classics from the late 1990s and 2000s. I hope this show can be a harbinger of another golden age of c-drama. There are so many talented people in the Chinese entertainment industry, it'd be a great shame if their talents are to be wasted on investors' greed for quick returns and easy profits.
"Best" seems relative. As a non-Chinese speaker, I'm happy enough to toggle amongst Viki, Amazon and *cough* other…
Yes honorifics were completely messed up in the subs. When will the translators understand that you cannot use "Eunuch" to translate honorifics used for powerful eunuchs? How hard is it to understand the very point of using the honorifics is to not to say 'eunuch'?
Major spoiler below, don't read unless you've watched ep 46.
RIP Long Bo. I thought you were going to make it out alive. Well, you might still pull a Xu Bin on us, but even if you don't, you're still my favorite character.
The latest 3 episodes had been disappointing for me. They were good thriller, but I just couldn't figure out what the emperor's political philosophy was.
A small detail that demonstrated the production team's attention to history: the bian'e (name plate) on entrance to the imperial reception hall was written "花萼相輝之樓", the correct Tang-era grammar, rather than the more modern "花萼相輝樓". Back then the word "之" was used in a way that's somewhat similar to the Japanese "の". I don't remember seeing anything like this in any previous period dramas. Incredible production!
The latest five episodes were just wow! So many twists and turns, and (never imagined I would say this for a Chinese…
Zhou Yi Wei was stunning in episode 42. During the episode climax his transformation from the initial shock, to disappointment & sadness, to laughter then finally to resolution was so intense yet so natural & effortless. It left me in awe.
No worries, the series got high praise from all sides, so, it will surely be allowed to end like planned. If Youku…
I think that might have been Youku's strategy, release the first half with less sensitive plot, make it a national cultural phenomenon, then the censors will be pressured to approve the second half.
https://www.caixinglobal.com/2019-08-19/alibaba-backed-streaming-sites-period-drama-gamble-pays-off-101452606.html
In the Chinese version of the report (paywall), they also announced an animation series. The animation will pick up right after the ending of the Longest Day in Chang'an. The story will be about Ge Lao and the Chang'an underworld.
BTW, the co-inventor of the clock, the monk Yi Xing will be name-checked later in the show.
As for what Long Bo was doing, he's executing his plan. He could proceed leisurely because he was the mover.
'This summer’s breakout series is the Tang dynasty-set thriller “The Longest Day in Chang’an,” a 48-episode show on streaming service Youku that fans say offers “an excitement that used to only be possible in American TV series,” thanks to its slick production values. Each episode ranges between 30 and 50 minutes. Amazon Prime Video has picked up the series, which also stars Djimon Hounsou (“Amistad”), for international markets.'
'For years, Chinese television has been bogged down by the need to bring investors rapid returns, keeping shoots short and production values low. The lengthy, bothersome and unpredictable censorship process makes producers prone to “add water” to their shows — that is, stretch out a 20-episode script to 60 or 70 episodes with product placements and pointless digressions — in order to get their money’s worth.'
'That’s changing, says Liang Chao, a producer of “The Longest Day in Chang’an.” “Now the remaining investors have sobered up and realize that good content is the only path forward,” Liang says. “The industry can’t keep on feeding audiences crap, because then they’ll think that only crap tastes good and won’t know how to recognize a steak if you suddenly feed them one. We have to keep giving them steak so they’ll know to throw the crap away.” '
https://variety.com/2019/biz/global/china-entertainment-hollywood-movies-box-office-streaming-1203299667/
Hope this is a harbinger of good times ahead.
I just hope there could be a crowdfunded project to show the entire series in movie theaters, perhaps over two days. I would gladly fly to China over a weekend to watch the show and hang out with fellow Chang'an fans.