The Long Ballad — A Long Ballad Indeed 😂
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
I loved The Long Ballad, and considering this thing is 49 episodes long, the fact that I never got bored says a lot.
The plot was easily one of its biggest strengths. There was always something happening—political conflict, war, strategy, escapes, betrayals, alliances—and even when things became complicated, I stayed interested.
This is one of those longer historical dramas where the length actually works because the story gives you enough to care about.
And then there was Ashile Sun.
Protective? Yes.
Loyal? Yes.
Devoted? Yes.
Carrying a significant portion of this drama on his back? Also yes. 😂
I loved him. He was exactly the kind of male lead I usually enjoy, although I desperately wanted the drama to give him and Changge more actual romance.
Changge, Please Stop Being So Stubborn 😂
Changge is intelligent, capable, brave, and absolutely able to survive without somebody rescuing her every five minutes.
Unfortunately, she is also stubborn enough to make me want to enter the screen and argue with her personally.
I liked her, but there were definitely moments when I wanted her to stop, reconsider her life choices, and perhaps listen to the people around her for approximately thirty seconds.
The relationship between Changge and Ashile Sun was believable, and I could see why they cared about each other, but their chemistry felt more emotional than passionate to me.
I believed the relationship.
I just wanted more spark.
And MUCH more romantic payoff.
GIVE ME THE KISS 😭😂
This romance was slow.
Very slow.
Painfully, “we have been through several wars together, can somebody please kiss somebody already?” slow.
And then we finally get a kiss...
AND THE DRAMA CUTS TO KISSING BIRDS.
BIRDS. 😂
I waited all that time and apparently the birds received the proper romantic scene.
I had heard that the decision may have had something to do with the real-life age difference between Dilraba and Leo Wu, but I have never seen a definitive official explanation.
Whatever happened behind the scenes, from a viewer’s perspective it was ridiculous.
The emotional connection between Changge and Ashile Sun was strong, but the drama spent far more time developing the plot than developing the physical side of their relationship.
Even the ending, while clearly happy, left me wanting more.
After everything these two survived, I wanted an actual romantic payoff.
A proper kiss.
A little affection.
SOMETHING.
Instead, I remained romantically underfed. 😂
Meanwhile, Hao Du and Leyan Were Stealing the Show 👀
Here is the funny part:
The second couple became more interesting to me than the main couple.
Hao Du and Leyan’s relationship developed more naturally, they were cuter together, and I became much more emotionally invested in their romance than I expected.
Leyan also had one of my favorite character-development arcs.
At first, she could seem weak and sheltered, and there were times when she annoyed me.
But watching everything she went through and seeing her become stronger made me appreciate her so much more.
By the end, I was genuinely protective of her.
And Hao Du?
That man was DEVOTED.
His protectiveness and loyalty completely won me over, and Liu Yuning was excellent in the role.
I wanted more scenes with these two.
Naturally, when we finally got their kiss, it was basically a freaking peck. 😭
I had heard that COVID-era filming restrictions may have affected some of the physical romance, but I have never found a definitive official explanation.
Apparently this drama simply decided nobody was allowed to kiss properly. 😂
Wei Shuyu Needed to Grow a Pair 😂
And then we have Wei Shuyu.
Sir.
Please make a decision.
Any decision.
Fang Yilun was fine in the role.
My problem was Wei Shuyu himself, because that man needed considerably more balls.
There were so many moments when I wanted him to stop hesitating and DO SOMETHING.
The women are surviving political disasters, running across the country, dealing with wars and assassination attempts, and Wei Shuyu is over there still contemplating his options.
SIR.
WE DO NOT HAVE TIME. 😂
Wait... Where Did the Fight Scene Go? 😂
The production quality was generally excellent.
The costumes looked beautiful, the historical world felt convincing, the action was exciting, and visually the drama looked expensive and polished.
But then occasionally an action scene would suddenly turn into animation.
I understand that it was a stylistic choice.
I even thought some of the artwork looked good.
But I would still be watching like:
“Wait. Come back. I was watching people fight.” 😂
It sometimes felt like the drama had taken away my live-action battle and handed me an illustrated summary instead.
The Cast Was Strong
This was a strong ensemble overall.
Leo Wu was excellent as Ashile Sun and completely sold the capable, protective warrior role.
Zhao Lusi impressed me with Leyan’s transformation.
Liu Yuning was one of the standouts for me as Hao Du, especially once his feelings for Leyan became more important.
Dilraba also gave a strong performance as Changge, although Changge’s stubborn personality sometimes affected how much I enjoyed her.
Even with my complaints, I cared about these characters, and that is a huge reason 49 episodes never felt unbearable.
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Early Episodes
Opposing Sides
Li Changge and Ashile Sun begin on different sides of a dangerous political and military conflict.
Their connection grows through repeated encounters, respect, and recognizing each other's abilities.
-
Early-to-Mid Series
Respect Turns Into Protection
Ashile Sun increasingly goes out of his way to protect Changge.
His devotion becomes obvious long before the drama gives them a conventional romantic relationship.
-
Mid-Series
Emotional Trust Develops
Changge gradually begins relying on him emotionally.
Their romance is built much more through loyalty, sacrifice, and trust than through physical affection.
-
Later Romance Arc
The Infamous "Kissing Birds" Era 😂
When the drama finally reaches one of the moments where viewers would normally expect a proper kiss, it famously gives us birds instead.
The feelings are mutual by this stage, but the drama remains extremely restrained physically.
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Later Episodes
War and Duty Keep Pulling Them Apart
The leads spend periods physically separated because of war, politics, missions, and responsibilities.
These stretches are not romantic breakups.
Their emotional loyalty continues despite the external circumstances.
-
Episode 49
Changge Accepts His Marriage Proposal
Ashile Sun's marriage proposal reaches Changge, and she accepts.
She makes it clear that being with him is what matters to her.
Breakup / Separation Status
- Slow burn: Extremely
- Physical separations because of war/duty: Yes
- Romantic breakup: External separations are not romantic breakups
- Proposal: Accepted in Episode 49
- Ending: Clear happy future together
Final Verdict
The Long Ballad gave me an excellent historical adventure, a protective male lead, strong performances, beautiful production, interesting political conflict, and one second couple that had absolutely no business stealing this much of my attention.
What it did NOT give me was enough romance. 😂
Changge was too stubborn.
Ashile Sun deserved more romantic material.
Wei Shuyu needed to locate his courage.
The second couple needed more screen time.
And after waiting forever for a main-couple kiss, I was forced to watch two birds have a better romantic moment than the actual leads.
I am still offended. 😂
Despite all of that, I loved the drama.
The plot was strong enough to keep me interested through all 49 episodes, and I was genuinely glad I watched it.
Would I watch all 49 episodes again?
Probably not.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely—especially if you like historical adventure, political intrigue, protective male leads, slow-burn romance, strong action, and second couples who unexpectedly walk in and steal the show.
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Minus half a point for romantic starvation.
And the birds know what they did. 😂
