The Long Ballad (2021)

Wished it was longer

Where do I start? I love almost everything about the drama. The plot. The soundtrack. The costumes and cinematography. Most importantly the casting. I’m particular blown away by Leo Wu’s performance as Ashile Sun - he’s such a badass as Tegin and there’s so much emotions in his eyes & his body language. I can’t forget the fighting scene, when he threw the cup on the ground and the ep when he had to kneel to She’er.
I wished the drama was longer though, some sun-plots just felt they were crammed into a mini series. Also, wish there’s more passion between the FL and ML - the chemistry is there and there’s so much potential for an epic love story but there’s simply lack of passion from LCG so it just didn’t feel memorable which is a shame. That aside, both leads delivered very solid performance. The drama is def worth your time.

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YOU CAN NOT MISS!!!

The play tells the story of Li Changge's survival after the change in the inner court and her gradual growth in revenge after disguised as a man to hide her identity. FL is a strong and brave woman who only wants revenge for her parents. In the conflict of interests between home and country, she finally gives up revenge and becomes the messenger of national peace with ML.

Dilraba is a Chinese actress I like very much. I've seen that "You Are My Glory" and "Eternal Love of Dream". She has a very excellent performance in both modern dramas and ancient costume dramas. And her appearance is full of exotic. She has a special charm, which makes me unable to extricate myself.

Wu Lei played a play when he was young. He is very handsome from his youth to now. I thought he would not be suitable for this role before watching this play, but I was wrong. He is very suitable. In this play, he is very mature, steady and courageous. His acting skills have conquered me!

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The Long Ballad (TLB) - a masterclass in storytelling

In a nutshell:
TLB is a 2021 Chinese drama based on a Manhua (Chinese comic book) of the same title. Set in the Tang Dynasty, TLB is a coming-of-age story about Li Change Ge (title: Princess Yong Ning), who is a headstrong and spirited daughter of the Crown Prince. She shares an affectionate bond with her best friend/cousin, Le Yan, and her Uncle Li Shimin (title: Prince Qin), who is also her tutor in military strategy and martial arts. When a military coup occurs, Change Ge becomes a political fugitive and flees the Capital disguised as a boy. Vowing to avenge her parents, she escapes to neighbouring cities in an attempt to shore up military support to retake the Capital. Along the way, she meets the enigmatic Ashile Sun from the Grassland tribes and they both form an unexpected friendship. Circumstances bring the two frenemies closer together as they discover a larger threat to the Tang Dynasty and the Grassland Tribes. In the end, Change Ge learns about the meaning of survival, sacrifice, unconditional love, and finally forgiveness.

The Highlights:
TLB is a fast-paced drama that pulls you into the thick of the plot right from the opening scenes. I effortlessly devoured all 49 episodes like an Atkins dieter set loose at the bakery on cheat day. As the story progressed, I found myself visually, musically and emotionally drawn deeper into the fears, desires, and inner conflicts of the characters. Unlike many C-dramas, this one stays consistent with its themes symbolised by Change Ge’s jade dagger of youthful innocence, tragedy, revenge, and letting go of past enmity.

The solid screenplay is equally supported by a strong cast. Dilraba Dilmurat was born to play the role of Change Ge, as she convincingly sweeps you onto the emotional rollercoaster ride of her character’s coming-of-age journey. She is able to convey all of Change Ge’s feelings of betrayal, hate, fear, sorrow, determination, and defiance with the most subtle of facial expressions. Leo Wu also flourishes in his role as the warrior prince conflicted by his duty to his Tribe and his instinct to protect the people he loves. He plays Ashile Sun with poise and commanding physicality, yet with an undercurrent of gentleness and refreshing chivalry. Imperial bodyguard Hao Du, played by Liu Yuning, and Le Yan, played by Zhao Lusi were the dark horses in this drama, with their unexpected onscreen chemistry and several scene stealing moments. Although probably not intended by the writers, the chemistry between Dilraba and Zhao Lusi playing the best friends/cousins torn apart by tragedy was off-the-charts; amusingly more so than the titular pairing of Dilraba and Leo Wu!

The fight choreography had a grounded yet energetic grittiness to it, with each stroke of ferocity reflecting the escalating intensity of the script. The original soundtrack (OST) and theme songs masterfully capture the emotion and tone of each scene, without being annoyingly overpowering. It is certainly one of the best I have heard so far and continued to evoke emotions I felt long after finishing the drama.

The Lowlights:
A storytelling device used in this drama was the sudden transition from live action scenes to comic book sequences; sometimes with awkwardly inserted CGI talking heads. This was thankfully only used in a few episodes, but was enough to abruptly disengage me from the story for those brief moments. The drama also starts to lose steam in the final 2 episodes with a few draggy scenes that didn’t add anything substantial to the overall plot. However by then, I was so invested in the drama that it didn’t become a major stumbling block to my overall entertainment. Change Ge also spends nearly half the drama playing a boy - a classic Chinese drama troupe where all it takes is for the female character to wear male clothing and ta da ... everyone believes she is a man! Love it or hate it, it's a classic troupe that requires some suspension of reality.

The Verdict:
The Long Ballad is a captivating drama that will leave you smiling, crying and cheering. The storyline is easy to follow and I thoroughly enjoyed the wild and exhilarating journey of survival and growing-up that these memorable characters took me on. Definitely worth the watch!

FAQs:
1. How many episodes? 49. Each around 45 mins long
2. Where can I watch? All 49 episodes with English subtitles free on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI65kLxuO_M&t=1323s

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A MUST WATCH DRAMA!!

Just completed this. I LOVED IT. Li Changge what a character!! Her character from a stubborn revenge seeking princess to a person who fights for people was marvellous. Love her equation with her uncle and luyan. Also who surprised me the most was Minister Du. I was so sure that he was gonna be the antagonist. I was waiting for his downfall.But he was just a person fighting for his country. Every character had their moment to shine.
Also, mimi is that one friend everybody needs in their life. Her and changge's bond is so precious. Hao du and leyan's plotline was most anticipated for me. I was rooting for him the moment he appeared on screen. I just wish there was more time for leyan to let go of shuyu and for us to know how her feelings developed for hao du.
Coming to the main lead's love story, theirs is one of the few healthy relationships protrayed in chinese historical dramas i've ever seen. The slow burn, them going from friends to lovers, that actions speak louder than words , them just being there for eachother. Loved everything about them.
Definitely one of the few dramas i am gonna be rewatching in future.

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It grows on you..

Finished watching this drama months back but became interested again since I’m watching DD’s new drama. Character wise, both her and Wu Lei did an outstanding job.
I can’t imagine any Chinese actress playing this role. She grows on you. Although, her character being too headstrong was too much, but hey, she was supposed to be 13 in the comics only. So what does she know. Wu Lei accepting this after the original actor dropped out was fate intervening. He was very intense, didn’t even know that he’s only 21. ZLS character was irrelevant to the plot but it’s okay to see her not doing rom-com for once. Even the 2nd male lead acted very well so he deserves to get a project again. This wasn’t just a love story because you’ll be disappointed if that’s the only reason you’re going to watch this. The love between the FL and ML was pivotal but it wasn’t all that. The entire cast did exceptionally well portraying their characters so it wasn’t just on the shoulders of the main leads. The OST was magnificent just watched the documentary on you tube and they should get an award for that. To us international fans The Long Ballad wasn’t a disappointment because it didn’t have the usual stupidity of a so-so palace intrigue that’s common in Chinese dramas. We want smart characters, smart plots and not one dimensional. To be honest I watch more Chinese dramas than Korean ones these days. They have a lot to offer and The Long Ballad is one.

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Beautiful Masterpiece

I have to say this is one of the most well-made drama I have watched in a long time. The script was exceptionally written--wonderful story with very thought-out character arcs as well as all the nice character developments for all of the main characters (and side characters). You can truly see the characters grow, change, and mature with each episode. You will find yourself falling in love with all of the characters; some characters you initially hate, but grow to love; some characters you couldn't care less about, but end up growing fond of them. You will feel all the emotions with this drama-- a rollercoaster of happiness and tears. It was heart wrenching at times, but so heartwarming as well.

The each and everyone of the cast nailed their characters perfectly. They brought their characters to life and together created a beautiful production that will leave a lasting memory after you're done watching. This drama is beautiful because it has a more realistic vibe to it. Life is not all happy and things will not always go the way you want. I am glad this drama did not sugarcoat anything. It felt real and relatable as a viewer.

The cinematography is top-notch. All the scenes were so beautifully filmed--great angles, perfect lighting, and added music appropriately. The songs were all so lovely as well (props to the singer! she has a beautiful voice).

If you love a drama is serious/good story and includes deep character developments, lots of "feelings" and emotions, and high-quality scenes/cinematography then you should give this drama a try. Get the tissues ready and watch this with an open-mind. You have to try and understand the story for all the character's perspectives, for there is not exact right or wrong--just a realistic story about love, life, and revenge versus forgiveness.

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I Don't Want it to End!

After The Sword & the Brocade and The Rebel Princess I didn't think I would find another drama I loved as much. But I did. I love the closing theme 'Cocoon' the most. The story has a few holes (which ones don't) but I can live with that. I love the characters so much, well-acted and so endearing. The story arcs draw you in. The villains are believable but not over-the-top.
The chemistry between the players is great, however the director must be Victorian, because the silliness they did with the kissing scenes really spoiled the moments and the atmosphere for me. That misdirection bordered on ridiculous.
That being said, however, the real star of this piece for me is Leo Wu. Just WOW! As popular as she is, the FL was just ok - and the second couple were so darling. ML took the whole show. I will re-watch just to look at him, his expressions - his fighting - and of course, that shirtless scene. GREAT drama, worth the watch. I'm taking it slowly for the last few episodes because I just don't want it to end.

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Should you watch The Long Ballad?

*My review contains a minor spoiler within the third paragraph, indicated with "**[]"

I really enjoyed what "The Long Ballad" had to give. I originally started watching this drama out of my interest in seeing Dilraba on the screen again, and it didn't disappoint.

The story is what I felt, well-thought out. We see Li Changge as a strong female lead but she believes that she has the right idea about everything until she later finds out she has much to learn and much to see. I really liked seeing the female lead progress from the beginning until the end. You can clearly see Changge's mindset change from being bent on revenge to wanting to defend her country with a strong sense of justice despite the wrongs she felt. I enjoyed watching her build bonds and allies with so many different people around her. We are used to seeing men at the roundtable where war is concerned, but this time there are so many people who put their trust and faith in Changge. It was refreshing to experience.

One of the characters that I have to speak about out of admiration is Li Le Yan (Zhao Lu Si). I loved seeing her character progress from a weak and timid princess into a brave and caring princess that's willing to go out on a limb for her people. She also managed to impress me because I loved that despite her father's admiration of Changge and despite her **[crushes' feelings for Changge], she never let it get in the way of the sisterhood she had with Changge. Usually we see characters with these bent up emotions of envy for their family but we never see that with Li Le Yan, which I was very thankful for.

The chemistry between Li Changge and Ashile Sun, I felt within my soul lol. I really enjoyed seeing them on screen together. The only thing I wish is that the show would've had more romantic/affectionate scenes between the two. When I watch historicals with tags of romance, I'm always looking forward to the romance, so I was disappointed that there wasn't much of that in this drama as far as the main leads were concerned. However, if you are like me and you love romance but also like historicals, there is enough action and plot to keep you interested in other things. There's so much so that sometimes I didn't even mind if our main leads weren't on the screen. So trust me when I say that this drama is well worth the watch and it has become one of my personal favorite historicals.

Another thing that I must mention is that I wasn't too impressed or interested in the random scenes of the manhua that would frequently pop up within the drama. Thankfully there wasn't so much scenes with manhua backdrops behind our actors, but I could've done without it altogether. It made me laugh in moments that I'm sure were meant to be serious because of how there'd be an actor yelling out commands during a pivotal screen but then a cartoonish manhua panel behind him.

The music I also enjoyed listening to. I knew once I heard the song playing in the opening of the drama in episode one that I was going to thoroughly enjoy watching this, and I did. <3

The long ballad is what it's titled, long. However, I didn't feel like there were filler episodes or unnecessary scenes that were dragging the story along. I didn't skip around when watching this drama because I was interested in what the characters were going to do. This drama strategically adds new characters, it doesn't do so for no reason, so I would keep that in mind when watching through this drama.

I'm a person that doesn't really like sad dramas if I can help it and although there are many heartbreaking scenes in the Long Ballad, I will never regret watching this drama. It made me laugh, it made me cry but more importantly it made me smile. I highly recommend.

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There is such an extraordinary girl in the world

I think the thing that kept me captivated the most was watching the characters grow. Li Chang Ge and Ashile Sun were already strong characters, but watching them grow to express their feelings and care, not just for each other and friends, but for all the people, not just their countries was just a pleasure to watch. Not just the main characters, but the support characters were brilliantly executed (especially Li L Yan and Hao Du), and they were all multifaceted and complex. Each person has their own story and own hardships, but they all work through it to become stronger, more understanding, so that they do not hate the person that they become. So in many ways, you can see a little redemption in all of the characters.

The music was also really good, and not just the soundtrack songs, but I loved the little sound clip of when a bad guy enters the scene. It really sets the mood and pace of what's to happen. Although I would like for more action/battle scenes, I'm a bit torn on this subject. Sometimes I would fast forward action scenes because it's just too much, and I would like to get back to the main story. However, I liked how they used animation to depict certain action scenes and used juxtaposition to combine these elements; I thought it was expertly done. While I can nitpick on small things that I think they could've done better at, I think that all in all, it was a really good drama and I can't really find much fault with it.

There are so many reviews on this drama, and I really didn't want to write another one that no one will read, but I just had to write about what I loved so much about this drama. My headline, "There is such an extraordinary girl in the world." is my favorite line in the whole drama (assuming the translation is right). I love strong female leads, and finally someone gives a woman the recognition she deserves. This is a MUST WATCH drama, so what are you waiting for?

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The OST will haunt me ^^


Aaaahhh I LOVE THIS SO MUUUUCH

TRULY BADASS CHICKS LOL bromances are okay but the SISMANCEEEEE BRUH
I have never shipped anyone more than I shipped Leyan and Changga and Mimi *heart eyes forever * but I have to say halfway through I was pretty much EXCLUSIVELY on Changga-Mimi

THE HEART WANTS WHAT IT WANTS OKAY ^^

I shipped these two so much that it was super hard to go back to the reality and ship Changga - Sun lol

And omo how GORGEOUS AND GREAT ACTORS ARE ALL THE FEMALE CAST! Diraba, Rosy and Cao Xi Yue took my breath away!

IM IN AWE AND TEARSSSSS

And I love that it's a melodrama but the WRITING FUUUUUUGE.

Everything is just perfection! !!

And okay my Second top ship after Changga Mimi was Hao Du - Leyan because Freaking Hao Du was like this following orders soldier who had a great character arc when he finds himself questioning things because of Leyan. But the truth is that ship took so damn long I feel like they could have easily put those scenes a little earlier at least at half way I'd even be happy with that. But it's all minor gripe.

But okay look, I LOVE STORIES INVOLVING GRASSLANDS XD I mean the BADASS armor and the gorgeous long hair and the fur what's not to love! Seriously Leo Wu looked like something out of a fantasy when he was all God of War, I LOVED IT SO MUCH.

But I fell in love with a character that I feel like even the writers didn't do justice ㅜㅜ

Sh er.

In fact not just him, but Lei Meng too. I mean I was even crying for the Khatun because you can see that her life under those men with having NO VOICE except if a MAN approved it, imagine living that way for decades!

Even Changga had to pretend to be a man to be taken seriously. But at least she had an uncle who trained her in the martial arts and all that. And even Leyan mostly got her voice heard because the Tang King was supportive.

But the Khans, the lot of them treated women like furniture mostly using the prettier slaves as concubines and however terrible Yi Cheng was not one of the Khans was respectful toward her. I mean ffs Yanli's idea of 'fatherly love' was pitting his adopted-but-formerly-slave son against his now wife and dead brother's son by KILLING SH ERS WOLF AND BLAMING IT ON SUN!

So yes. I really can't imagine a man like this being good to his wife. He wouldn't even let Sher visit his own mother.

Anyway the point is I was rooting for Sher to GET SOMETHING. Either his brothers affection, because clearly he wasn't going to get any from his father. So, yes it broke my heart. I honestly got on the mujin Mimi ship pretty late even though I knew Sher wasn't going to get her, I know how Chinese historical work lol

But I would have gladly watched a hundred episodes if Sun had at least spent some quality time with Sher, or he'd gotten SOMETHING other than DUTY FOR YOUR TRIBE ASHILE WOLF DIVISION

Same for Lei Meng jeez I'm still crying over what he said when he was making Sher go to safety - "go! Leave and let me do the evil things so you can be innocent young Khan."

Just.. think about that for a second.

That's what I mean, when I say the writing is so good.


Well that's all for now, have a great day x

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