Drama Review: The Long Ballad

49

Rating

★★★★

Duration

0 Hrs 45 Mins

Episodes

49

Drama Digest         

Li Chang Ge, a Tang Dynasty princess with a military background, meets AshiLe Sun, a General in the opposing Khan army, for vengeance. During the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Shi Min, the Tang emperor killed Li Chang Ge’s family members. She cloaks herself as a man and travels to Shuo Province to assemble an army to murder Li Shi Min in retaliation for her family’s death. However, as a captain in the military of Shuo Province in Zhangzhou, she is besieged by General Ashina Sun of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, who hires her as a personal military strategist.

The Feel-Good Part

The visual displays in the drama are inventive. The cinematography is excellent, including overhead shots of Chang’an’s metropolis and some deep camerawork for specific situations, notably at Liuyun Abbey and in the grasslands’ cherry blossom valley. The plot is of excellent quality, credited to the freshness of the source and script.

The Disappointing Factor

There are plenty of action sequences to compensate for the lack of large-scale sieges and conflicts. The Computer Generated Imagery effects are infrequent in use.

In-depth Analysis

The Xuanwu Gate Incident, a victorious royal coup to gain control of the Tang Dynasty, occurs in 626 C.E., shaking the kingdom and its political hub Chang’an to its core. The brutal revolt, led by a cunning prince, kills Li Chang Ge’s family during the assault, but she manages to flee. As Emperor Tai Zong, the prince has ascended to the Imperial throne. Her intentions are thrown into chaos when she is defeated by the soldiers of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. The triumphant General Ashile Sun chooses to retain her in his service and assigns her the role of a military expert as he pursues his military objectives. Together, they make a strong military force. Over time, she develops affections for her captor, and he, in turn, grows feelings for her.

Star Power

Dilraba Dilmurat is a talented actress, and it’s especially pleasing to watch her bring so much realism and relatability to the character of Li Le Yan. The way women have been portrayed in this show is admirable. The main female characters are well-developed, and each of their distinct story arcs is well-developed. It’s worth noting the outstanding performances of the supporting cast, which includes several veterans.

Overall Opinion

The Long Ballad is a well-crafted drama. If you’re not a frequent viewer of this genre but are fascinated by the idea, this drama would be a great place to start if you’ve never seen a historical Chinese drama before.