2
7
1
Decent Story, Tropey & Cliche, Acting Lacks Depth
Adapted from the novel "The Stolen Bride" by Xi Juan, the series takes significant liberties, straying far from its source material. The Chinese title, 相思令 (Xiang Si Ling), suggests a poignant tale of longing between separated lovers, yet this theme is poorly executed in the drama. The prevalence of forced marriages—whether mutually unwanted or one-sided—leaves a bitter taste. The use of blackmail to manipulate characters detracts from any semblance of romance, casting a shadow over the relationships portrayed.
Storyline
Set in a fictional era across three neighboring kingdoms—Nan Yan in the South, Bei Xuan in the North, and Xi Xiang in the West—"Everlasting Longing" spins a tale of intrigue and romance. In Nan Yan, a genius girl from a merchant family disguises herself as a man to run her family business. She’s also the secretive descendant of a master craftsman known for designing advanced machinery and weapons. In her search for a metal-like granite to craft a unique arrow, she travels to Bei Xuan, where she meets and falls in love with a man seeking answers about his parents’ death twelve years prior. The arrow found in his father’s body was designed by her family, making her a crucial clue. While he finds ways to keep her in Bei Xuan, she remains until her king, suspecting betrayal, arrests her family and threatens their lives unless she returns. At the same time, the man she loves is coerced into marrying another woman, forcing her to leave, heartbroken.
Characters and Acting
Jun Qi Luo / Jun Fei Fan:
As a woman, she is known as Jun Qi Luo; as a man, Jun Fei Fan. Intelligent, beautiful, courageous, and calm under pressure, Jun Qi Luo is a compelling character. However, Angelababy’s portrayal falls short, with unsynchronized facial expressions that fail to capture the character's essence, often making her more irritating than endearing.
Xuan Lie:
Despite being from a bloodthirsty tribe, Xuan Lie is kind and intelligent. As the general of his tribe, he strives to unite the other four tribes to strengthen the Bei Xuan kingdom. While Song Wei Long’s commanding presence fits the role, his acting leaves room for improvement. Styled like a wolf, his towering presence and fur coat do evoke a fearsome wolf master vibe, but the heavy makeup, emphasizing his hooked nose, gives him more of an eagle-like appearance.
Other Main Characters:
Surprisingly, I found other main characters like Shao Qi Min and Luo Zhi Zhou and their respective actors more convincing than the leads. Bai Bing Ke deserves praise for her portrayal of Princess Xuan Qing Kou, nailing the high-pitched, staccato voice that makes the character utterly irritating. My favorite side character, though, is Luo Qi (Chen Tao), Xuan Lie’s sidekick and almost a brother to him. Chen Tao's acting is commendable with fine facial expressions that compliment Xuan Lie's cold appearance greatly. The character I found most grating was Jun Yu Jue, Jun Qi Luo’s first cousin. Greedy, evil, and cartoonishly exaggerated, Wu Yi Jia’s performance, while over-the-top, captures the despicable nature of the role.
OST
The original soundtrack is a pleasant surprise, enhancing the emotions of key scenes, adding a layer of depth that the story itself at times lacks.
Final Thoughts
"Everlasting Longing" leans heavily on well-worn clichés and predictable tropes—falling off cliffs, women disguising themselves as men, and forced political marriages. The story unfolds in two halves, with the first set in Bei Xuan and the latter in Nan Yan, centering on the dilemma of love versus duty. While Xuan Lie prioritizes love above all, Jun Qi Luo believes that without harmony between nations, there can be no foundation for love.
Despite featuring real kissing scenes, the chemistry between Song Wei Long and Angelababy falls flat, with Song Wei Long showing more passion than his co-star. The plot twists often defy logic, making the storyline feel like a patchwork of forced developments. One of such weird logic is Jun Qi Luo’s decision to split her own family in pursuit of peace, and the illogical timeline at the end only adds to the disconnect.
That said, credit is due to the elaborate settings and the strong performances from the supporting cast, who ultimately breathe life into the drama.
If you are either a hardcore fan of Angelababy or Song Wei Long, or an armchair romance buff like me, you may still enjoy this drama despite its many shortcomings—but if you're looking for a well-crafted, emotionally resonant story, you might find it lacking in depth and coherence.
Storyline
Set in a fictional era across three neighboring kingdoms—Nan Yan in the South, Bei Xuan in the North, and Xi Xiang in the West—"Everlasting Longing" spins a tale of intrigue and romance. In Nan Yan, a genius girl from a merchant family disguises herself as a man to run her family business. She’s also the secretive descendant of a master craftsman known for designing advanced machinery and weapons. In her search for a metal-like granite to craft a unique arrow, she travels to Bei Xuan, where she meets and falls in love with a man seeking answers about his parents’ death twelve years prior. The arrow found in his father’s body was designed by her family, making her a crucial clue. While he finds ways to keep her in Bei Xuan, she remains until her king, suspecting betrayal, arrests her family and threatens their lives unless she returns. At the same time, the man she loves is coerced into marrying another woman, forcing her to leave, heartbroken.
Characters and Acting
Jun Qi Luo / Jun Fei Fan:
As a woman, she is known as Jun Qi Luo; as a man, Jun Fei Fan. Intelligent, beautiful, courageous, and calm under pressure, Jun Qi Luo is a compelling character. However, Angelababy’s portrayal falls short, with unsynchronized facial expressions that fail to capture the character's essence, often making her more irritating than endearing.
Xuan Lie:
Despite being from a bloodthirsty tribe, Xuan Lie is kind and intelligent. As the general of his tribe, he strives to unite the other four tribes to strengthen the Bei Xuan kingdom. While Song Wei Long’s commanding presence fits the role, his acting leaves room for improvement. Styled like a wolf, his towering presence and fur coat do evoke a fearsome wolf master vibe, but the heavy makeup, emphasizing his hooked nose, gives him more of an eagle-like appearance.
Other Main Characters:
Surprisingly, I found other main characters like Shao Qi Min and Luo Zhi Zhou and their respective actors more convincing than the leads. Bai Bing Ke deserves praise for her portrayal of Princess Xuan Qing Kou, nailing the high-pitched, staccato voice that makes the character utterly irritating. My favorite side character, though, is Luo Qi (Chen Tao), Xuan Lie’s sidekick and almost a brother to him. Chen Tao's acting is commendable with fine facial expressions that compliment Xuan Lie's cold appearance greatly. The character I found most grating was Jun Yu Jue, Jun Qi Luo’s first cousin. Greedy, evil, and cartoonishly exaggerated, Wu Yi Jia’s performance, while over-the-top, captures the despicable nature of the role.
OST
The original soundtrack is a pleasant surprise, enhancing the emotions of key scenes, adding a layer of depth that the story itself at times lacks.
Final Thoughts
"Everlasting Longing" leans heavily on well-worn clichés and predictable tropes—falling off cliffs, women disguising themselves as men, and forced political marriages. The story unfolds in two halves, with the first set in Bei Xuan and the latter in Nan Yan, centering on the dilemma of love versus duty. While Xuan Lie prioritizes love above all, Jun Qi Luo believes that without harmony between nations, there can be no foundation for love.
Despite featuring real kissing scenes, the chemistry between Song Wei Long and Angelababy falls flat, with Song Wei Long showing more passion than his co-star. The plot twists often defy logic, making the storyline feel like a patchwork of forced developments. One of such weird logic is Jun Qi Luo’s decision to split her own family in pursuit of peace, and the illogical timeline at the end only adds to the disconnect.
That said, credit is due to the elaborate settings and the strong performances from the supporting cast, who ultimately breathe life into the drama.
If you are either a hardcore fan of Angelababy or Song Wei Long, or an armchair romance buff like me, you may still enjoy this drama despite its many shortcomings—but if you're looking for a well-crafted, emotionally resonant story, you might find it lacking in depth and coherence.
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