Action-packed, political turmoil, survival, dry romance...and a story that loses steam mid-way.

The Long Ballad was not quite what I expected.
TL;DR Overall opinion: I found the drama quite enjoyable (especially the beginning). Towards the end, the side characters' stories became my central focus (less dragging). The drama had some slow parts that were good parts to stop and come back later. In general, the Long Ballad is about a C+ to B- on my grading scale. Watch it again? Probably not. Do I appreciate the drama? Yes. Do I want a season 2? No, I don't think that is necessary. Are the characters memorable? Yes.

Pros:
1. Strong Main Lead(s): Dilraba plays the role of a physically and mentally strong, capable, clever girl (Changge) who is raised as a princess of the emperor. She encounters many hardships that test her mental and physical strength. Ashile Sun (Leo Wu) is a seemingly cold, intelligent person. He is the general of the Eagle Division under the Great Khan. His character is interesting to watch--from the carefully devised plans to his unique mercy (as well as heartless killing).

2. Fun Supporting Characters: A few of my favorite supporting roles include Hao Du (Liu Yuning)--a very stoic, heartless man-- and Li Leyan (Zhao Lusi)-- the hopeless princess and best friend of Changge. Both characters are fun to watch as they mature and change throughout the drama. I was also surprised to see Liu Haikun take on a less serious role of a swordsman (Situ Lanlang).

3. Dynamic Characters: Especially Hao Du, Li Leyan, and Ashile She'er--the characters' journeys in life adds depth/gives more to the drama.

4. Soundtrack: Need I say more? Look up "Cocoon" by Zhou Shen.

5. Antagonists: The antagonists change throughout the series, each posing a different threat that requires a new strategy which kept me guessing.

6. Storyline: The storyline is excellent! I don't want to give away spoilers, but I will say this: From Princess to outcast to military strategist to slave to outlaw to hero... the story follows the life of a girl whose life is flipped backwards, and whose friends become enemies and enemies become friends (NOT A SPOILER).

7. The Side Plots: The side plot with Li Leyan kept me going. Even when the main plot dragged for eternity, I persevered for her corner of the drama. Her journey is unique, like Changge's, but shows us that you don't have to be a battle princess or a military strategist... everyone has their own struggles, even the innocent, the rich, the poor, the heartless... *cough cough*

Cons:
1. Flat Characters: Changge started off as a dynamic character--kind to those close to her and kick-butt to her enemies; as the drama progressed, she gradually became flat and emotionless (aside from tears--the romance scenes with her blank expression often left me confused about her emotions at the moment).

2. Annoying Characters: (Entirely my opinion) the Crown Prince, Mimi Guli (sometimes she is sweet and likeable especially towards the end of the drama, but other times she is just a bit... annoying), Zhen Zhu (Princess Tujia of Monan--extra), and Wei Shuyu (he started off fine, but eventually became extra).

3. Poor/Cheesy Graphics: Sometimes the cartoon and the live action will be combined, but the live action part looks like a... well... 1979 footage on extremely blurry, smashed lens.

4. Drags on: Towards the end, the plot began to drag. Not-so-big issues took f o r e v e r . It could have ended with 40 episodes.

5. Sorry guys, the Romance: Romance is just the sprinkles on the cupcake, the cherry on top, NOT the sole purpose of the drama, nor the main issue at hand. In the Long Ballad, not all the romance was bad. Li Leyan's romance was cute and bearable, and so was Mimi Guli's romance. The main leads... well... it dragged. It seemed a bit weak in some episodes (from I LIKE YOU in one only for meh in the next). Or it would be confusing *does she like him or is this a flaw in expression* and sometimes the relationship issues at hand were exaggerated. The main leads' relationship with each other sometimes seemed VERY dry. But, the small actions like taking one's hand or standing up for one another and watching each other's backs were enjoyable (sometimes it just got confusing).

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Three women band together to uncover the truth...and deal justice.

TL;DR If you enjoy low romance, independent FLs, sisterhood, murder, and mystery/suspense, I recommend The Danger of Her.

Of course, it is not everyone's cup of tea, but because it's short, modern, and nonromantic, I would recommend this to those seeking a break from lengthy, romantic costume dramas.

What I think about it
I like it. It's not romantic and relies on suspense, although not overly so. It shows independent women, which, sadly to say, is often rare in c-dramas. The FLs must rely on themselves to achieve their goal, and the sisterhood between the women is enjoyable to watch. None of the FLs are annoying. In addition, each one has her own job. There is a lot of mystery in the plot, and the ending is interesting but resolved. Some of the acting, as mentioned, is too cartoonish, especially the antagonist.

Summary without spoilers
There's 4 FLs, each one with a unique backstory. The "Main FL" Qiao Wei is in a terrible marriage, but she is wealthy and has a son. She attends her college 5 year reunion and meets up with an old friend who is a writer Su Yao (another FL). Something insane happens, and something from the past resurfaces, and an old boyfriend blackmails QW. Four classmates are brought together and devise a plan to help QW get rid of this blackmail--and escape her abusive marriage.

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Republican-era Mulan

Welcome to the Republican-era Mulan. Arsenal Military Academy is a gem. Seriously. Usually c-dramas drag on forever (ie, the Legend of Fei...), but not this one.
TL;DR Brotherhood, action, realistic depiction of female trying to disguise as a guy, strong leads, good character development.

Why I like AMA:
1. Brotherhood--Xie Xiang/Liangchen and her relationships with her classmates is such a brother bond. They treat her like one of them and she treats them like her brothers. If you watched Mulan 2020 and was disappointed in Mulan's relationship with her crew, Bai Lu's performance shows what should've happened.

2. Action--the suspense and action is plentiful. Although not realistic (especially cleaning a loaded gun ??? maybe I'm just being critical) it is entertaining to watch a girl fight equally alongside men and deal the same damage.

3. Realistic depiction of females--The FL Xie Liangchen could pass for a feminine guy or a tomboy. Although Xie Liangchen was strong compared to the other girls, in the academy, she struggles to keep up with her male classmates. She deals with humility for being "weak," but it only encourages her to work hard to pass physical tests. In shooting she excels. She deals with periods, with loss, and emotions, but she's a REAL, STRONG GIRL and PICKS HERSELF UP. Girl got grit.

4. Strong Leads--Hands down, Bai Lu played Xie Liangchen so well. Liangchen is tough, emotionally and physically, and can go from polite female to tough guy within minutes (depending on how fast she can change clothes lol). She endures hardships but overcomes them. The ML, Gu Yanzhen (Xu Kai), is a playboy and likes to do what he wants. He's rich and from a powerful family, and he doesn't mind losing face. Although he seems to not care, he has his priorities to which he is loyal.

5. Development--as the drama progresses, the characters mature. Gu Yanzhen learns the reality and cost of fighting for what you believe in. Xie Liangchen realizes that secrets become sticky. Shen Junshen (Li Cheng Bin) learns that power can corrupt and people change. Even annoying characters learn what it means to put others before yourself.

Summary: Arsenal Military Academy is about a girl named Xie Xiang (Bai Lu) whose brother attends a military academy. He dies before his graduation, so she joins the academy when it reopens to honor her brother and country. She takes her brother's name (Xie Liangchen) and disguises herself as a boy. At the academy, she makes friends (or enemies) with her classmates and they go through a lot together. Life for her gets difficult as she struggles to keep her hidden identity. If she is discovered...

Verdict: Watch this Republic-era Mulan. Do it! You won't regret it!

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An undercover cop and a drug bust...but with interesting characters and kick-butt FL

Great modern-ish drama on drug busts. It's definitely underrated but it's worth a watch. 8.5/10
TL;DR Good characters, chemistry, suspense but leaves some characters without a follow-up. Spoiler-free summary at bottom.

Pros:
1. Great Characters--The main lead, Li Qiang, is strong, smart, and capable. I loved watching her endurance as the situations become sticky and her intelligence in logically dealing with the case. She is physically strong and can fight well, but she also has a sympathetic side of her (often shown around her friends or a little girl named Coco). Cheng Jingsong, Li Qiang's close friend/brother, is a righteous and loyal police officer. He cares deeply for those around him and will put them before himself, even in trying situations. His morally rightness contrasted with the mission he found himself entangled in. Unlike Jingsong, Zhang Xian He is complicated. He seems like a playboy at times but is not. Sometimes he seems evil; sometimes he seems good. He uses others to help him achieve his unforeseen plans, but he wishes well of people. Overall, Zhang Xian He has many layers that are entertaining to watch throughout the show.
2. Good Chemistry--The characters' interactions with each other are believable and true to their personalities. For example, Jingsong and Qiang share a sibling bond that is evident in their interactions. Zhang Xian He is complicated, but he does not wish to hurt those close to him which is shown in his actions.
3. Suspense--Cops- and dealers-type conflict litter the drama, providing both mystery and action on a legal and illegal basis.

Cons:
Unfinished stories--some characters leave the screen without a follow-up story or background story. For example, Boss Hu's (a drug boss) girlfriend is pregnant, but the drama ends without expanding on her friendship with the FL or what happened to her after the FL excels in the case. Also, Captain Cao (the leading officer of the Narcotics division) and his relation to the other officers seems a bit flat, and his relation to Li Qiang's uncle and father are not clear.

Summary
A tough female lead, drug busts and bosses, illegal deals, lies and loop holes... Stealth Walker is a crime drama centered around a young lady named Li Qiang (Lin Peng) who aspires to be a police officer like her adopted father. Her friend Cheng Jingsong (Li Zi Feng) happens to be a member in the SWAT team. After a tragic accident during an undercover mission regarding a drug network, Ling Qiang goes undercover to discover her adopted father's murderer. Coincidentally, she meets Zhang Xian He (Zheng Ye Cheng) who is part of the drug dealing circle (but he deals with the financial part). They work together (or should I say...use each other), but Li Qiang struggles to hide her identity, knowing the cost of her secret. As she dives deeper into the illegal business, Li Qiang realizes that the case may not be as simple as the police initially believed...

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