The Long Ballad (2021)

Outstanding depiction of love and story building

This has to be one of the most rounded, best written dramas out there, with every single episode of 49 episodes enticing and engaging!

Starting off with an outstanding opening song, the story and the characters pull you in with real suspense, great character development and the best written and acted out depiction of a healthy love I have seen. Its a slow burner that gets so strong, that one can easily start to obsess about some of the characters.

Especially the male lead Ashile Sun was written so perfectly, that I can't remember a book, manga or series, where the male lead in a romance plot was written and/or acted out better. The writers outdid themselves and set a new standard.

There is so much to say about this drama. But to sum it up, it delivered something, that most dramas nowadays fail to: something real and a love story unbound to the clichées of late. It's fresh, relatable, admirable and so new. It seems like the whole production is teaching us, what a great story is all about and how it's meant to be done originally: not reheating the same old over and over again and letting fantastic characters unfold themselves naturally and come together naturally instead.

Spoiler:
If not for the missing scene of the two main leads kissing (they blurred it up and instead showed 2 cutesy little birds kissing instead), the missing wedding scene (though they declared each other their spouse, we didn't get to see their wedding) and the happy but half-open ending - I would have given this drama a straight 10.
Spoiler end.

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A rare gem of a drama

I mostly prefer Korean to Chinese dramas and there are only a few Chinese dramas that i would rave to friends about (much less write reviews for), but The Long Ballad is certainly one of them and it truly exceeded my expectations, with fantastic performance from a well-put together cast, a realistic plot with minimal CGI effects (yay!) and some tissue-grabbing moments. There are people out there who lament (quite needlessly, i think) over the lack of kiss scenes between the ML/secondary lead couples, but fail to appreciate that romance is more than powerfully made up for from the body language and words exchanged between lovers. If kissing on the set is the criterion to determine professionalism in acting (even if the genre is romance), i think these viewers have been spoilt rotten by the deluge of kissing scenes in dramas/movies since a few years back and unreasonably place such demands on actresses/actors. Sure, some passionate kisses on scene would have been nice but to be criticized/denigrated for the lack/absence of it? Ridiculous.

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The most Scarred Female Heroin ever && 2nd CP nearly robbed the show~!

Definitely a Must Watch!

Although this drama is not perfect and has its own confusing flow, it surely catered and entertained me all throughout.

Main Flaw - What made it confusing is the fact that the change of reign were mostly off-screened and not all of the characters who were given a title actually appeared on the drama. For example, Prince Qi was never on screen and it took me so much research when the hell did he appeared and what he has done so far for me to know him. Same with how Li Shimin was just a Crown Prince then episodes after he's already the Emperor. Like, How? Where? When? It's very confusing to the point that you'll have to do your research to actually understand what's happening (Because they never explain it properly in the beginning).

Also, I felt so bad for Li Changge/Princess Yongning. It feels like she was there to be hit every episode and most of them are major injuries! Like who the hell survives that? Most of her wound were on her upper body and it made me wonder how did she made it till the end. ? Her Stubborness at one point irritated me but I guess this is just how the story goes and those events were necessary for her character growth. At the end, it has proven its worth as she's able to realized her aspirations and was able to free herself from revenge and grudges.

The Sceen stealer of the show!! The greatest CP of all Princess YongAn and Hao Du. Their character development was insane. I started this drama hating on Le Yan for being fragile, weak and a cry baby & Hao Du for being ruthless and unreasonable. But they turned out to be the Dark Horse of this drama. When everything's going north and south, their Couple Scenes stole the viewers interest and they succeeded in literally owning half of the show.

Story - 9.5, IF not only for it's confusing changes of reign this drama is easily a 10 even considering the plot holes and such. Nonetheless, It is a great watch and I truly enjoyed it.

Acting/Cast - 10, Top notched! I mean, Dilraba + Wu Lei + Zhao Lusi is already an all kill for me then they even added Liu YuNing and Alen Fang (Although his character's kind pathetic lol). I only got praises for the actors/actress because they all nailed it. I just wish they didn't use the Kissing Birds for Dilraba and Wu Lei's kissing scenes... Such a waste...

Music - 10, Epic! I love all of it's Soundtracks & BGMs. Like I always says "Ballad will never go wrong". Eargasm and very soothing.

Rewatch Value - 10, IF given a chance I would definitely watch it again and will recommend it to anybody who got interest to such genres. An enjoyable piece.

Overall - 10, despite the plot holes it is an easy 10. No arguments needed. This show just served its purpose and that is to give great entertainment to its viewers. It is indeed a good show to watch.

IF you find my review helpful please let me know.

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Important Facts of this Drama

Honestly this was the first historical drama i have watched and this is the first review i'm doing because i like this drama very much .
So let's start with the positive fact acting of dilireba she performed her role very well and leo wu after watching this drama i searched alot about him in simple i'm in love with him. And the plot Chenge life journey how she traveled throughout the country and face many difficulties independently honestly this give motivation to the girls for me she was a strong girl with a strong character who independently even the loved one Ashile Sun he understood her and even support and being a person being a girl i think every girl have dreams that she want a partner like that i think he is idol and Hao du how he changed just bcz of Li yan .
Now the negative facts i don't think i see any negative facts every worked hard story was Excellent. Hope my first review will be helpful for someone. Hope for the best!

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> I was very hyped about this drama. Always checked for updates. Desperate to see what’s coming next.  

> I loved the cinematography! Loved the way the scenes were captured from every angle.

> I dig Ashile Tribe style. It just looked somewhat different and beautiful and ML always looked amazing .

> The fight scenes were something to watch. The music -- beautiful. I especially loved the comic input.

> The Long Ballad started off at a decent pace. I found it was very captivating. It was upbeat, but 30 eps in and I started to lose interest. In the beginning, without question, I knew what was driving Li Chang Ge ... but soon I was left to wonder what her purpose “really” is.  It got lost in transition and the memento the series started off with was lost somewhere around this time as well.

> The writers tried to make Li Chang Ge into some sort of Godlike saviour, but the way I see it— only the life she deeds important is important.
 
> Overall, the series isn’t bad but neither is it great. I really thought The Long Ballad would have been 2021 “2020 Love and Redemption”, in the sense that, Love and Redemption was such a great hit.

> Maybe I will pick it up again in another year or so. No promises thou. But hey! Go ahead and give it a watch. You all might like it better than I did.

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Quintessential - Deserves more seasons and Epic Movie version

I have my previous review written here, and now I must continue be proud with this series.

Acting.
Chemistry is the key for a great ensemble creating perfect harmony and romancing amazing stories. This one got it, for sure!
The actors and actresses delivers this ripen micro expressions of love, crush, bravery, intrigue, devastation, heartbreak, faith, optimism, timid, malicious, devious, heroic, wit.
Sword fight and Archery performance, flawless. Tear-jerking moments, heart-rending. Endearments moments, flutters hearts. If you’d like to be taken to an adventure, then this is your cup of tea.
It is so exciting to found another great drama works, since a few of my preferences. To mention best two titles thus far was: Secrets of Three Kingdom and The Longest Days in Chang’An. Now we have a third with The Long Ballad.

Costumes, Sets and Props.
It is about adventurous story where most of the scene leads to outdoors. And they were scarce Palaces involves or that grand majestic forbidden city sized Palace. However, the portraying is detailed and well produced. I could’ve swear Ashile Sun’s hair do is my all time favorite here. Even Chang Ge androgyny style is so attractive. Costumes and make-up were fitted perfectly aligned with each character. The Masks are also one of my favorite.

Story.
Well narrated. Eloquent rendition. And unpredictably predictable. It always leaves for more. Like this could becoming a start of invigorating series. Really deserves for more seasons and brought up to movie versions. Fingers crossed. It is a wish (with hopefully the same cast as leads).
The last 9 episodes was astonishing. It’s like maneuvering great journey to the end.
There are a few of awkward scenes, which gives a tad of cringe feelings. Like the fire CGI, would be better if was just smokes and chaos. Then again, during pandemic perhaps it was the consideration. The plague marks were weird too, simple blotch would’ve been okay.
Skinships are only a kiss away. PG-13 Literally. Don’t be let down by it. A Sun’s hugs and affectionate stares is such a great expectations. The same goes with Hao Du angst, despair and sunshine smiles.
Chang Ge is very strong and determined. Focused and sometimes sassy. Dilreba is perfect for this. Le Yan is a becoming princess. Her character is slight similar with Sansa Stark. Evolving with stronger elements. Rosy Zhao bring that charm to screen seamlessly. Ashile Sun is heaven’s matched for Leo Wu. Can’t hardly think anyone would be so perfect to play that role. He did Him justice. Constantly breathtaking. Hao Du is sunshine. Perhaps started of like a grim gray clouds. Then along the way his heart grew brilliant like precious gem stones. Yuning is an immaculate Hao Du.

Soundtracks and BGM.
Suitable and divinely orchestrated. It has all of the emotions components for each scenes. Impeccable.

My favorite top three scenes are: Third would be the kicks off in the first episode. Ball Game. How Heroes meet. Second would be A Sun banishing Chang Ge in order to protect her. First ranking would be all the moments A Sun instantly saved Chang Ge.

Like I said. This drama deserves five more seasons and an epic movie version.

*** previously reviewed
From episode 1, start this curious journey of epic excitement. I am so invested. My chest felt bursting feelings of enthusiasm. This drama is such a casting goals, and you will fell in love madly with both pairs specially. Also the rest of the cast are aces.

Ever since The Longest Day in Chang’An, I seemed to wondered earnestly with titles referring for any production sets during the Tangs’s dinasty and that historical city. Seeking out any action love stories (nothing screams cheesy) drama, well-made and spectacular. And found it here with The Long Ballad.

Chemistry has always been the key for great episodes of drama. Supported with good rendition, well-thought landscaping with wardrobe, make-up and sets, music and all of it just maneuvering with the right direction and coordination.

Most memorable moments is how the love moments being delivered. With patience, passionately.

The two main pairs are incredibly play out modest. However, brilliant with the feelings oozing out their words, stares, gazes, pain, hurt, longing, crush, and divine love. They are great becoming actors and actresses, and hopefully awaits more wonderful projects in the future for them.

Let’s talk pairs up couples. I’ll keep in one sentences.

Changge and Ashile Sun. Steamy couple in a modest way possible, tends to left your imagination gone wild but expected.

Leyan and Hao Du. Devoted Love, arresting.

Must warn for the blood and gore. But honestly, this is a historical genre. And this just one of the bits that done right and makes it gloriously great.

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Roll eyes drama

Whenever I see the lead female protagonist come into action , I’m really rolling my eyes all the way. All she does is “act smart “ , act benevolent , create trouble and others , causing others to die cos of her stupid decisions . She’s really not very intelligent but she thinks she is . This occurs throughout the whole drama and I wonder why the lead actor will fall in love with a woman like her . She should just die in the 1st epi along with her family . Reminds me of another drama love like a galaxy . Not sure why the directors recently like to portray the “strong “ female characters and overdo it . Just so lame .

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Amazing cast saves the day!

I really enjoyed this drama but unfortunately I have some complains.
At times I felt like it was dragging. One moment it was very slow-paced and repeating things we already knew and the next (especially towards the end) it felt rushed! Also, personally, it felt like the production's budget was limited. I say this mostly because of the fighting scenes that were animated (and poorly at that), but it goes even further than this. The spaces-locations that were shown were numbered. We were almost always shown the crown prince/king in his chambers. Εven when the ministers came to discuss with him, it was still in his room, we never saw the court meeting even at perilous times. Additionally, in the drama Li Le Yan was loved a lot by her father (the emperor) so it makes zero sense for her wedding to be that simple. Even if they wanted a simpler wedding (which cannot happen due to customs at the time) she would still wear an extremely elaborate dress.
What saved the drama for me, was the amazing cast! The acting was great and at times brilliant. The scenes where the ml lost his mother or when the fl lost A dou were tear jerking . Some award worthy performances were given by Zhao Lusi ( for example when her little companion passed away and when Hao Du was fighting for her with Ashile SheEr). I especially liked the chemistry of Zhao lusi and Liu Yu Ning as Li Le Yan and Hao Dou . And if I am being completely honest, I have to admit that this couple was at times more appealing and interesting to me that the main one.
On another note I enjoyed the OSTs and the opening was amazing (both the music and video)!
All in all, I really liked the story, though I do believe it could have been a little more well written. It's a good drama, which becomes a great one, because of the cast. Would probably re-watch (with a lot of skips).

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At times riveting

Admittedly, I was on the fence about starting this series because the pairing of Dilraba and Leo Wu seemed odd to me, and I wasn't wild about yet another cliche princess-disguised-as-boy-grows-up story. Generally, this couple pairing works fine with overall cohesiveness in production, whole cast acting, and plot. As in, whatever reservations I have about the main pair chemistry didn't really matter to my enjoyment of the show because the rest of it more than made up for a quality viewing.

Had this show focused more on the FL/ML romance, it would have been less successful. More intimate and romantic scenes would only serve to highlight the lack of... intensity? Passion? Sparks? The romance is very one-sided, with Leo Wu's character Sun obviously in love with Dilraba's more reserved character LCG, though she is gradually falling for him too. It's hard to tell how exactly she's in love with him, like a low level attraction that hums along but never raised above tepid. The slow burn in itself isn't the problem, it's just that there isn't enough energy between them to make me feel invested in their relationship **. These scenes - Sun suddenly grabs her in a tight hug and asked her to stay alive, or Sun fighting Shen to win her (as the slave) and then grabbing "his woman" in front of the entire tribe to haul his prize away - hot hot hot. No doubt they are incredibly beautiful people, so every scene is a feast to the eyes. However, the chemistry is less between the characters but more like chemistry between Leo Wu & the viewer, Dilraba & the viewer. All the long eye looks and close encounters are supposed to elicit "feels" but sorry, I don't feel it. There are no kissing scenes for them, with their eventual coupling inferred and left to imagination. That works better than potentially lukewarm kisses. After they have this understanding about their relationship, the romance went into a deep dive from some tension to zero.

Some of the reviews noted that Sun's character didn't really develop over the series. I agree to an extent, but would argue that Sun is already developed as a person. He's already got a good sense of self and gets the big picture. He's not still trying to find himself or stubbornly following a one track mission (unless it's perpetually saving LCG). He's a steady solid rock for LCG. As an imposing, charismatic general, Leo Wu's portrayal is totally believable. Leo Wu's only other series I've watched is Love like the Galaxy, which is a great show, but I couldn't help noticing that he was also an imposing, charismatic general there, whose injury on shirtless muscled bod had to be treated by love interest, and who also rolled down the roof with love interest and catching her. I would love to see him break out of mold.

LCG's character, in the meantime, does develop. LCG is learning what vulnerability is like, figuring out the big picture, and changing her worldview as a result. I love female characters who are strong, smart and not silly/whiny but the disparity between what she is supposed to be (strategic, decisive, smart) and her actions (naive, idealistic, unguarded) makes it hard for me to buy into her character (so far). Add to that impulsiveness, tunnel vision, and terrible choices. Possibly, my bias is due to not seeing how emotions translate into Dilraba's expressions. She has very defined modes - gentle (with the women and the weak), or serious/reserved/determined (with everyone else), or sad (on deaths).

This is one area where Zhao Lusi as the character LLY, has blown it out of the water with all the nuanced, highly expressive emotions on her face and in acting. Whether it's just her alone, of her and LCG, or her and HD, she provides a good counter foil to the other person or to her surroundings. It looks very natural. She's my favorite character so far going from a place of meekness and vulnerability to strength of spirit and mind. The 2nd pairing between the Liu Yuning's character HD and Zhao Lusi's character LLY is only emerging as of mid-series. LYN hasn't gone beyond the stoic, conflicted, stony face body guard yet, so we'll see how he transforms later with increasing proximity to LLY.

[** For superlative chemistry, see Bai Lu/Luo Yunxi (LiS, TTEOTM), Bai Yu/Ni Ni (PW), for e.g. Even Leo Wu/Zhao Lu Si (LLTG) has more sparks)

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the LONG ballad fr

If you like a cdrama that is mainly focused on politics this is for you! One of the things that I noticed the most is that the FL is written like how they usually write MLs, for better or for worse which makes sense for the story they wanted to tell. She's a soldier and a war strategist more than a princess. The thing that left me disappointed tho is that it's really slow in some episodes, it tends to drag some of the sad moments a little too much expecially if it's about the secondary characters rip. like the friends of the main characters are always into some tragic stuff it gets a little boring lmao
Still, it was fun and I really liked how they showed the diversity of the people living in the same country but with different backgrounds and cultures. Hao Du my beloved.

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High production historical drama but romance is sub-plot

I started watching this drama because of the high praise even though I'm not a huge fan of war dramas. From the start you can tell it's a very high production, with amazing actors, set designs and costumes. The storyline and characters felt very realistic for the time period it's set in. But be aware that romance is a sub-plot so you might be disappointed if you are mainly watching for that. The beginning of the drama is very slow and I'd say after around episode 12 is where it started to get really interesting.

CHARACTERS:
There are lots of characters that we follow throughout the story but I'd say mainly we see the story of the two girls who grew up together as best friends. The first princess is the female lead who is a tomboy, very skilled and intelligent. She is betrayed by her uncle at the start and looks for a way to take revenge for her family's death. The second female lead is her best friend (and uncle's daughter) that reluctantly becomes the new princess. She is very sweet, gentle and sensitive. Both have huge character developments and go through many intense challenges. In fact the storyline of the second female lead is one of my favourites as it's done so well. There are also three male leads that are love interests and closely connected to the war storyline.

ROMANCE:
I'm a huge fan of romance so naturally my enjoyment will highly depend on the romance aspects of the drama. Even though I loved the romantic scenes in the drama, they were not enough for me. Main couple is mostly about saving each other from life and death situations and the second couple has kind of a love triangle (but it's done really well, without jealousy or annoyance). In fact, the second couple has a more romantic feel to them but towards the end of the drama. There are no proper kiss scenes so as mentioned above, if you are mainly wanting to watch a romance story, you might be disappointed.

OVERALL:
It's a very well done historical drama, the war scenes are not too much or intense. It's about personal growth, overcoming challenges, friendships, finding love in the most unexpected ways and fighting for justice and peace. If you are not craving a lot of romance, this drama is perfect for you.

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