The Long Ballad (2021) - Synopsis
Drama info:
Title: The Long Ballad
Chinese title: 長歌行 (Translation: "Chang Ge's journey")
Episodes: 49
Genre: Historical, Action, Romance
Original network: Tencent
Release date: 31 March 2021
Airing schedule: 31 March 2021 - 3 May 2021
Synopsis:
The Tang Dynasty, in the year 626 AD... Princess Li Chang Ge's entire family is slaughtered after the infamous Xuanwu Gate Incident - a palace coup in which her mentor and uncle Prince Li Shi Min successfully wrests control of power and becomes the Crown Prince, and later, Emperor Tai Zong.
Vowing vengeance, Chang Ge flees Chang'an city to muster an army powerful enough to overthrow the new emperor.
However, she meets with treachery at Youzhou and learns the meaning of true sacrifice as she helps defend Shuozhou against the invading Eastern Turkic Khaganate. Outmanned and outgunned, she is defeated at the hands of General Ashile Sun, who presses her into service as the military strategist for the Eagle division he leads. The duo form a formidable partnership and mutual respect turns into love.
Torn between the realisation that Emperor Tai Zong is an able Emperor who will ensure the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and its people, and her personal quest for vengeance, Chang Ge suffers much heartbreak and turmoil in her long journey to enlightenment...
Main cast/characters
Dilraba Dilmurat (迪丽热巴) as Li Chang Ge/Princess Yong Ning 李長歌
Wu Lei/Leo Wu (吴磊) as Ashile Sun 苏檀儿
Zhao Lu Si (趙露思) as Li Le Yan/Princess Yong An 李乐嫣
Liu Yu Ning (劉宇寧) as Hao Du 皓都
Fang Yi Lun (方逸倫) as Wei Shu Yu 魏叔玉
Trailer:
First thoughts:
🐼: This one is epic! A young, gorgeous cast, with a solid plot set against an interesting historical backdrop. Adapted from Xia Da's popular but unfinished manhua/graphic novel, it will be interesting to see how The Long Ballad does as a drama adaptation.
For once, the English translation of the drama name is fairly spot on, in that the titular heroine Chang Ge's Chinese name means a long song or ballad. So this drama is Change Ge's journey, or her ballad, if you will.
👉Check out my final review here
