WK1

That fire scene between her and Changge was no accident. She was just waiting for Changge to show up.

She hated many men. All those many Khans she had to serve. But for women, she hated none more than Li Changge. The entire series, she was the queen in using hostages to get what she wants. Yet, Changge used her her play book and teamed up with her son to rescue Ashile Sun. She was good in finding out other peoples' weak spot, which hostage will be most precious for which 'tool' she wants to use.

Changge used her playbook, found her weak spot, and Sheer was more than willing to play along, after knowing how evil his mother was.

So this last scene, she knew exactly what she was going to do, to perish with the woman who foiled all her beautiful plan. To have Ashile Sun killed, so there will be no competition for her son to be the next Khan.

She must have prepared extra fuel in all those candle stick holders, so the candles will burn faster, stronger. Place them nearer to the drapes, again to speed up the burning. To make sure that Changge perish along with her.

If not for Ashile Sun, she could have succeeded. She would have succeeded.

Let's wait for next year when the awards organisers rate the various dramas and actors. If TLB does not win many awards, those who do the ratings must be sleeping on the job.

We are half way through 2021. So far, all the Cdramas shown pale in the comparison witht TLB. Some will put you to sleep, faster than any sleeping pill.

Not sure about the next half of 2021 though.

Regardless, I think TLB would be hard to beat. As a package, this truly was a magical series. No insult to other producers, directors, actors and actresses, I don't think there will be another movie as compelling as this the rest of 2021.

This, I fully agree. Particularly, if they have made those shots during the filming stage. If they did not, the blame lies squarely on the scriptwriters

Lots of Cdramas have rushed ending. The little that I know tells me when they make a movie or drama, they usually shoot tons of shots, just in case they missed out anything (will be extremely difficult to re-gather the cast for a re-shoot). They will deliberately 'over-shoot'.

And then let the editors do the job, during post filming. All of this rushed ending must be due to poor editing.

Not sure who makes the final decision on the number of episodes for TLB though. If the film censors forced them to have 49, there is not much the editor can do, but to try and cut out as many scenes as he can.

But, if no one forced this on them, and no financial consideration compelled them to do it, it is indeed unwise of them to remove the intended episode 50. They surely would enough shots in their inventory to make the ending seem less rushed.

Be that as it may, compared to many other cdramas, relatively speaking, the ending for TLB is still one of the best around.

In some other dramas, scenes shown in trailers used in promotion were not even seen when those dramas were screened. That really make viewers feel cheated.

In TLB, if I am not wrong, whatever we saw in the trailers were shown in the actual drama

That shot, it brought out the little boy spirit in him. It was if his mother is just nearby and he was telling her, see, ma, even an arrow cannot kill me

Why? Why has it been lousy for you?

Dear Kralicek

Sounds like a massive mis-match between your taste and what TLB has to offer. Don't feel so bad. There will always be another Rebel Princess around the corner

Just move on. Honestly speaking? Don't take it personally, but hanging around in this forum will not do you much good.

This is a colony of TLB lovers totally charmed by this drama. Readings all the comments here will only make you more miserable and degrade your mental health.

Go to the comment section of Rebel Princess in MDL. You will feel more at home there.

The actress portrayed her role really well. Especially the last few episodes

She is like a villain specialist. I have seen her in a similar role in another drama. So very likely she played the villain in other dramas as well

It must be her face. Just take one look, you have no need to guess who is the villain in a drama.

In TLB, most viewers already knew she was the villain very early on. We just don't know how deep into the dark side she was going to go. Yet, female viewers will still feel for her. Especially all the mothers. Even when she knew she was going to die, she made sure her son will be safe.

Zhang Bin Bin? He has many leading roles recently? Already two just this year

Bai Lu must have been bullied by Xu Kai fans, who do not want to see her appearing in too many dramas with Xu Kai

Have they shown this drama in Japan? Japanese viewers are used to anime. The animation used in the TLB will hardly bother them. In fact, they might love it even more, because of the animation.

Dilraba does commercials for Mikimoto. They must have seen her quite a bit on Japanese TV.

The clothings worn by the Turks are very similar to those worn by Japanese warriors in historical Japanese dramas. They will relate to that.

No reason why it will not be a roaring success in Japan too

To some degree, I suspect this was forced upon the director due to the age difference between Wu Lei and Dilraba.

To show chemistry, most directors just need to tell the two leads, here, just go and give us a passionate kiss. Viewers will understand what it conveys.

In TLB, the director needed to rela\y on more complex acting skills from our two main leads. Like a gentle tapping of the last finger from Changge on Ashun's hand, to say, thank you dear, for saving me. I appreciate that.

Or that gaze from Changge to Ahsun while they were running away in episode 31, which says, wow, I know you have forgiven me, because you have come this far to find me

Great! I think you have undertood the ending the way the director meant it

I suspect many viewers don't because when they watched the final scene, they forgot just how unique these two individuals are. Most viewers wanted to see a relationship more akin to that of the 2nd couple. The guy always hovering around the girl, in case she gets lost again.

Not for Ashile Sun. There is complete trust in Changge. If his wife can plan, organise and execute such a complex rescue to save him, is there any good reason at all, for him to doubt her capability to take good care of herself? None. He would not be worried even if she is in the next village, or the next city.

TLB calls for 'deep' watching, which requires a greater degree of viewer immersion. Not just in the final scene. Scattered throughout the drama, many scenes cannot be fully grasped by those who expect to sit back, relax, do nothing, and just let all the actors and actress 'carry' the message to them.

TLB requires deeper investment of our time, in order to mine the many subtle messages hidden to 'surface' viewers. For those willing to invest this kind of time, TLB will stay in their memory longer.

It is quite fair. The higher the investment, the higher the returns

Somewhat different. With these other girls, they were not leads. In Fight Break Sphere, he was the lead, but Li Qin was only in support role. Their interaction there was limited. In Wirlwind Girls, both Wu Wei and Seven Tan were support cast. Again limited interaction.

In TLB, they were both leads. His screen time together with Reba was at a totally different level. I think you know what I mean?

So very true. Insanitysane could well be a guy unable to handle a stron female like Changge. Like you, I hate to see fan wars. Very toxic. Hopefully, we do not ever get to see any more comments like those posted by Insanitysane.

I scrolled all the way down, just to say thank for a fine analysis. I re-read your comments again and enjoy it so much. With so many comments around, if I do not search for it now, I may never find it again, and it will be such a pity. Once again, thank so much!

Here is our interpretation of the final scene. It needs to be seen in the context of a number of previous scenes, scenes which clearly tell us that they want to be together the rest of their lives.

Technically speaking, they were already married. He made the marriage proposal before her mother's Memorial Tablet. She accepted it in front of that same tablet, though not his presence. All their good friends accepted them as a couple.

Yet, their togetherness is highly unconventional. But then, what should we expect? They are a rather uncoventional couple anyway.

So, yah, they were indeed a married couple, together in the grassland. Very much literally. Changge already mentioned that she does not want to linger around in Chang'An. And Ashile Sun mentioned that he will go wherever she goes.

The final scene was a clearly a grassland scene.

So, many viewers have asked, why not simply put them in the same frame? Wouldn't that make it so obvious to all viewers that they were together?

But putting in the same frame in the final shot will make their relationship far too conventional.

In his marriage proposal to Changge, he wrote that he will give her freedom. We interpret that to mean, freedom do things that are meaningful to her (which may or may be meaningful to him). Putting them together in the final frame may convey the idea that finally, she still tags along with him all the time. like a conventional couple. Wife always follow husband kind of idea.

But showing her alone in that final frame, gazing at the sky shows that she was truly free. Free to explore what might interest her. Free to pursue her own dream, even while technically married to him.

Yet, the final frame also show the falcon. Giving us the idea that Ashile Sun is very nearby. If ever she needs any help, he can get to her in really quick time. Kind of like, they will be in the same apartment. But she could be in the living room doing something, while he is the bedroom or somewhere pretty near by, and can get her to in no time at all. They are together, just not tied by an apron string. Because of mutual trust, they do not need to in each other's physical presence 24/7. They can still some personal space, if you like.

Showing her alone in the final frame also shows us that this drama is about her. Her journey, her life experiences, her adventures. If you notice, the first scene of the first episode started with her. Isn't it supremely appropriate that the final scene in the final episode will end with the camera zoomed in on her?

After all, that is title of this show, isn't it? Changge's journey

Indeed age is just a number. Wu Lei may be younger than Dilraba, you will hardly notice that. You WILL feel that he is older than her. How shall I describe their chemistry? It is beyond words.

In ELOD, Dilraba's chemistry with the male lead was great. But they were defined by kisses and some of the steamy bathtub scenes.

Here in the Long Ballad, you will need slightly less physical approach to look at chemistry. You will see chemistry from their hugs, the way they hold hands. The way they gaze at each other. Oh yes, there are a couple of forehead kisses. But nothing as physical as those from ELOD.

Yet, it is a deeper form of chemistry. You will be left with no doubt that these two individuals truly care for each other, respect each other. This sort of chemistry does not really make you yearn for them to have babies. But it will make you yearn for them to be together the rest of their lives.

She has lots of fans all over the world

In China, they are very particular. Tax evasion is a big no-no. One of their biggest actresses Fanbingbing got kept in cold storage for years (and still there) because of tax evasion. You may have heard of her. She acted in one Marvel movie, I think.

Having an affair with a married person is another no-no. In Hong Kong, a big name female actress who fooled around with a married got her career short circuited.

Dumping unwanted babies a yet another. One of Reba's peers got caught up in that.

So far, Reba has avoided all these

If I am not wrong, in an interview in connection with her new movie, You are my glory, she said she is not quite ready for marriage at 29

Dear DramaOpinion, in your opinion which drama has something? Which are the dramas that have left something stuck to your mind? And what exactly got stuck there? We are honestly keen to know