With Xiao Zhan in the cast, you can bet that The Longest Promise (玉骨遥) will attract eyeballs. Even before the first episode was aired, many people were already lining up to watch the drama. So, if you are a fan of the actor, I’m sure you wouldn’t miss this. Even if you are not, this will still be a drama to watch out for given all the hype and publicity. It is obviously a big budget production but does it live up to most people’s expectations in terms of plot and its execution? Check out The Longest Promise review below for my analysis.
My rating: 7.5/10
Episodes: 40
Type: Xianxia Romance
Aired: July 2023
Images Credit: WeTV Official Facebook
The Cast Of The Longest Promise
- Xiao Zhan as Shi Ying
- Ren Min as Zhu Yan
- Alen Fang Yi Lun as Zhi Yuan
- Wang Chu Ran as Bai Xue Lu
- Lu Yu Xiao as Bai Xue Ying
- Wang Zi Qi as Qing Gang
- Marcus Li Ming De as Chong Ming
- Ye Sheng Jia as Shi Yu
- Chen Zi Han as Consort Qing
- Han Dong as Da Si Ming / Bai Yu
- Ruan Sheng Wen as Qing Dong Fang
- Guo Jun as Zhu Gao Xu
- Zhang Lei as Bai Jing An
- Mickey He Cheng Min as Emperor Bei Mian
Main Characters
Shi Ying
Shi Ying was the Crown Prince of Kong Sang when he was a kid before he became a cultivator of Jiu Yi Mountain. He is supposedly born with a divine spirit and has excellent cultivation skills with its magical spells. Shi Ying is righteous and fair even from a young age. He also has a kind heart with a benevolent mother who was the Empress of Kong Sang. His father is Emperor Bei Mian.
Zhu Yan
Zhu Yan is the daughter of the King of Chi (Crimson) Clan. She is into cultivation and has a straightforward personality. Zhu Yan can be naive and reckless. She will also voice out when bullied. Her mother is the Queen of the clan while her personal maid is Yu Fei.
Supporting Characters
Zhi Yuan
Zhi Yuan is the butler of the Chi Manor. He is a Merfolk and has been around for 200 years. He used to work for Zhu Yan’s great grandmother. Zhi Yuan has a soft spot for Zhu Yan and is protective of her.
Bai Xue Lu
Xue Lu is the eldest daughter of the King of Bai (White) Clan. She is a scheming and selfish woman who wants to attain powers due to her lower status as a concubine’s daughter. Xue Lu is determined and stubborn with a crooked mind.
Bai Xue Ying
Xue Ying is the younger daughter of the King of Bai Clan with his official wife. She is also Zhu Yan’s best friend. Xue Ying is a kindhearted person. She has a gentle but timid personality.
Qing Gang
Qing Gang is a warrior of the Qing (Azure) Clan with great fighting skills. He is not a good talker and appears unfriendly but is a principled man. His love interest is Xue Lu.
Chong Ming
Chong Ming is an expressive divine ancient bird and Shi Ying’s assistant and friend. He is loyal to Shi Ying who saved his life in the past. Chong Ming tends to worry over the calamity that Shi Ying might face and often reminds him of the danger Zhu Yan could bring.
Shi Yu
Shi Yu is the expected new Crown Prince of Kong Sang. He is a nice young man but timid. His father is Emperor Bei Mian while his mother is a consort. Xue Ying is his love interest.
Consort Qing
Consort Qing is Shi Yu’s mother. She is from the Qing Clan whereby her brother is the King. She is an ambitious woman who wants to ensure that her son gets the throne. Hence, Consort Qing is manipulative and evil-minded.
Da Si Ming / Bai Yu
Da Si Ming is the High Priest of Jiu Yi Mountain and Shi Ying’s master. He knows Shi Ying’s mother and has a deep love for her. Da Si Ming is a shrewd man who is always scheming to fulfill his own personal agenda with little regard to loss of lives.
Qing Dong Fang
Qing Dong Fang is the King of Qing Clan which is the most powerful clan in Kong Sang. Together with his sister, Consort Qing, he wants to elevate his nephew to the throne.
Zhu Gao Xu
Zhu Gao Xu is Zhu Yan’s father and King of Chi Clan. He is a doting father to Zhu Yan. In terms of politics, the King of Chi Clan has remained coy on who he supports in the power struggle for the throne.
Bai Jing An
Bai Jing An is the King of Bai Clan and father to Xue Lu and Xue Ying. His plan is to have one of his daughters married off to the Crown Prince so that he could reap the benefits of the relationship to keep the clan strong. He also has one son, Bai Feng Lin, who is the General of the Bai Army.
Emperor Bei Mian
Emperor Bei Mian is the ruler of Kong Sang and Shi Ying and Shi Yu’s father. Shi Ying’s mother, Bai Yan, is his Empress but his beloved is Consort Qiu Shui of the Merfolk Clan. Hence, he is a bias father and ruler who is more concerned about his personal pleasures than state affairs.
Synopsis
The sacred land of Yun Huang is divided into 3 groups namely the Kong Sang Clan, Merfolk, and Ice Clan. 7,000 years ago, Lang Xuan of Kong Sang Clan wanted to unify Yun Huang but thwarted by the God of Destruction who incited evil thoughts among the clans for his selfish gains. Internal strife arose and this formed the setting for the romance between Shi Ying and Zhu Yan.
There are 6 clans that make up the Kong Sang Clan which is led by Shi Ying’s father, Emperor Bei Mian. Shi Ying was the Crown Prince but was framed for killing his father’s favorite concubine. He became despised overnight and was ordered to be executed and his mother banished to the cold palace. To save him, his mother entrusted him to the High Priest of Jiu Yi Mountain. Shi Ying is then hidden away in the mountains to practice his cultivation and presumed dead. Only Zhu Yan of the Chi Clan chose to believe in Shi Ying’s innocence. But her action of commemorating Shi Ying caused her to be deemed a calamity to him. Hence, the High Priest wanted Zhu Yan dead if they meet.
5 years later, Zhu Yan meets Shi Ying again but couldn’t recognize him as they are now adults. She ends up as his disciple as the High Priest tries to manipulate things behind the scenes to get Shi Ying to regain the throne. Zhu Yan and Shi Ying have to put their feelings for each other aside due to their master-disciple relationship. They also have to confront the chaos that might ensue due to a mysterious dark force which is stirring trouble in the continent.
The Longest Promise Ending & Recap (Spoilers Alert!)
* Based on 40-episode version. The last 2 episodes are over an hour long.
The Longest Promise has an ending that will attract different interpretations. Zhi Yuan’s mind and body get controlled by the God of Destruction, Xu Yao in Episode 39. His obsession for Yao Yi makes him a target. Xu Yao wants Zhi Yuan to lead him to the Sea Emperor. The latter’s blood is needed to unseal the full powers of the 2 ancient rings that he has acquired. In return, Xu Yao will transform Zhu Yan into Yao Yi for Zhi Yuan.
In Episode 40, Shi Ying and Zhu Yan manage to defeat Xu Yao and Zhi Yuan dies. However, once Zhi Yuan fades away, Xu Yao enters Zhu Yan’s body instead. But Shi Ying’s love for Zhu Yan makes it hard for Xu Yao to control her. Xu Yao then jumps from Zhu Yan to Shi Ying’s body. Shi Ying then asks Zhu Yan to kill him so that he can seal Xu Yao inside his body. Zhu Yan does so. As he dies, he tells her that he will come back to visit her whenever the Snowy Rosa flower blooms. A petal falls into her hand when he fades away.
One year later, Shi Yu who is now the Emperor of Kong Sang and Xue Ying have a baby son. Qing Gang wants to resign as the King of Qing Clan to be near Xue Lu and help her to revive the city. Zhu Yan is at the place where she met Shi Ying as a kid. The flowers are blooming. She releases the petal which drifts up to the tree. A Snowy Rosa blooms and Shi Ying appears. Whether he has returned permanently or it is just a visit is open to interpretation.
When Did The Leads Get Together?
After initial misunderstandings, Zhu Yan decides that she wants to be Shi Ying’s disciple in Episode 10. As Shi Ying learns that his master is scheming to have Xue Lu as his first disciple, he tries to help Zhu Yan to improve her cultivation skills so that she could fight for the position. In Episode 13, Zhu Yan defeats Xue Lu in a competition to qualify to be his first disciple. She first kisses Shi Ying in Episode 17 to save him while underwater after they fell off a cliff due to an attack by the Ice Clan sorcerers.
Shi Ying himself questions his feelings for Zhu Yan in Episode 18 and subjects himself to punishment for having mortal desires. He tries his best to suppress his feelings and asks her to leave the mountain. This is also for her safety since his identity has been exposed. Zhu Yan refuses but has to leave when her parents come to bring her home in Episode 19. She misses Shi Ying and asks herself if what she feels for him is love.
When Shi Ying meets his father again in Episode 28, Zhu Yan speaks out for him which angers Emperor Bei Mian. She is flogged as a result which touches Shi Ying. He plans to leave his priesthood and express his feelings to Zhu Yan in Episode 30 but circumstances lead her to misunderstand his intentions in Episode 31. She learns the truth in Episode 35 after Shi Ying pierces himself with the sword she is holding to repay her for killing Zhi Yuan. They finally become lovers in Episode 39 after Zhu Yan sacrifices half her lifespan and senses to bring Shi Ying back to life and he undergoes Tribulation of Hell to leave priesthood to be with her.
Is There Any Breakup?
After getting Zhu Yan to leave Jiu Yi Mountain in Episode 19, the couple meet again in Episode 24 following her escape from her wedding. She is supposed to marry Ke’erke of the Huotu Tribe. By Episode 30, Shi Ying has already decided to express his feelings for Zhu Yan. However, when he starts getting himself involved in state affairs as a favor to Shi Yu, Zhu Yan assumes that Shi Ying is giving up his priesthood to resume his position as Crown Prince. Traditionally, the Emperor of Kong Sang is supposed to marry a daughter from the Bai family and this would mean Shi Ying will have to wed Xue Lu.
The High Priest emphasizes Shi Ying and Xue Lu’s relationship and the future of Kong Sang to Zhu Yan in Episode 31. He wants to break up Shi Ying and Zhu Yan because he sees her as the reason for Shi Ying to give up the throne. Xue Lu also leads Zhu Yan to believe that Shi Ying has given her (Xue Lu) a betrothal gift. In Episode 32, Shi Ying mistakenly thought Zhu Yan has understood his feelings and reason for giving up his priesthood.
This misunderstanding culminated to a heartbreak in Episode 33 when Shi Ying believes Zhu Yan’s lie that she is in love with Zhi Yuan. Zhu Yan’s protection of Zhi Yuan causes Shi Ying to be injured during their duel. Knowing that the High Priest will kill Zhu Yan for it, Shi Ying preempts it by severing their master-disciple relationship in Episode 34 to make her leave. Shi Ying is heartbroken after killing Zhi Yuan and encountering Zhu Yan’s hatred in Episode 35. He kills himself as a result and Zhu Yan only realizes her master’s love for her thereafter.
Is There Any Love Triangle?
Zhi Yuan also finds himself developing feelings for Zhu Yan because she reminds him of his past lover, Yao Yi, who was the Queen of Chi Clan. But he tries his best to distinguish between the 2 and suppress his feelings until Episode 22. This is when he finds out that Zhu Yan is Yao Yi’s reincarnation. Yao Yi saved him during the war and made him her disciple although he is a Merfolk. He chose to be with her rather than returning to his clan when given a choice.
Yao Yi subsequently died in a war. She asked him to wait for her reincarnation to lessen his pain. But in actual fact, she only saved a wisp of her soul in a bead to keep him company. She can’t be reincarnated because of a spell casted by the Ice Clan. When the bead reacted to Zhu Yan, Zhi Yuan takes it that she is Yao Yi’s reincarnation even though he knows she doesn’t have Yao Yi’s memories.
But Zhi Yuan also knows that Zhu Yan only has feelings for Shi Ying. He tells Shi Ying his love story in Episode 30 to prod Shi Ying into expressing his feelings to Zhu Yan. However, when Zhi Yuan claims that he is the Sea Emperor, Shi Ying is forced to kill him. Hence, Zhu Yan lies to Shi Ying that Zhi Yuan is her beloved to stop the killing in Episode 33. The misunderstanding is only cleared in Episode 35 and 37 for Zhu Yan and Shi Ying respectively after his near death experience.
Who Is Zhi Yuan?
Apart from being Yao Yi’s lover, Zhi Yuan is also a senior official of the Merfolk Clan which has a long history of feud with the Kong Sang Clan. Zhi Yuan has the prestigious Dragon Branch bloodline and only he can identify the Sea Emperor who is regarded as the leader of the Merfolk Clan. The Merfolks have been leaderless for a long time and this caused the clan to be weak and controlled by bullies led by Elder Jian.
However, Zhi Yuan has disappeared from his clan for 200 years to work for the Chi Clan due to his love for Yao Yi. When he is forced to leave the Chi Manor in Episode 22, Zhi Yuan decides to search for the Sea Emperor. He wants to ensure the Sea Emperor doesn’t fall under bad influence and cause a war between the Merfolk and Kong Sang Clan. Otherwise, Zhu Yan will also get caught up in the chaos.
However, Zhi Yuan has a hard time earning back the trust of his clan members due to his long absence. He finds the Sea Emperor who is a boy named Su Mo in Episode 27 but claims the identity to protect Su Mo. This forces Shi Ying to kill Zhi Yuan in Episode 35. But Zhi Yuan survives as the God of Dragon has embedded the dragon’s breath in him. He is revived by Shi Ying and Zhu Yan in Episode 38 as they learn that he is not the Sea Emperor and that they shouldn’t kill someone because of a prophecy.
When Did Shi Ying’s Identity Get Exposed?
The King of Qing Clan is suspicious of the mysterious figure in Jiu Yi Mountain and thus, Qing Gang is tasked to verify Shi Ying’s identity and kill him if need be. Qing Gang learns Shi Ying is the Crown Prince in Episode 11 but hides it from the King and Consort Qing. This is because Shi Ying prevents Qing Gang from sacrificing himself to kill him. The incident is witnessed by Xue Lu. She uses her wiles to get the truth out of Qing Gang and confirms Shi Ying’s identity.
When Xue Lu fails to be Shi Ying’s disciple, she uses the information to get on the good side of Consort Qing instead in Episode 15. Consort Qing then informs the King of Qing Clan that Shi Ying is still alive.
In Episode 17, the High Priest purposely brings up Shi Ying’s identity while talking to his disciple when he knows that Zhu Yan is listening in. His motive is to get Shi Ying to leave priesthood and get involved in the state affairs. By mentioning that Zhu Yan and her clan might be targeted due to her association with him could force Shi Ying to leave the mountain to protect her. Hence, Zhu Yan comes to know that her master is actually the Crown Prince that she thought was dead.
In Episode 18, the High Priest spreads the news that Shi Ying is alive to preempt the Qing Clan’s scheme to get Shi Yu appointed as heir to the throne.
Who Is The Ice Clan Sage?
The Ice Clan sage is Lang Xuan. He is Emperor Xing Zun who is the founder of Kong Sang Clan together with Bai Wei. Lang Xuan and Bai Wei were lovers and he was obsessed with her. As Kong Sang has fallen and degenerated, Lang Xuan wants to destroy and rebuild it so that he can give back to Bai Wei a prosperous world that she had fought for. This is revealed in Episode 30 when he gets Shi Ying to meet him.
Lang Xuan tells Shi Ying that he is relieved Kong Sang will be in good hands with Shi Ying around. He then asks Shi Ying to kill him to release him from his suffering which Shi Ying did. Shi Ying thinks Lang Xuan has died then. In actual fact, it is the God of Destruction, Xu Yao, who has taken control of Lang Xuan’s body by feeding on his obsession for Bai Wei.
Qing Gang & Xue Lu
Qing Gang and Xue Lu meet each other when they attend a competition to become Shi Ying’s first disciple. He falls for her although she keeps betraying him for her own selfish interests. After Xue Lu lost to Zhu Yan in the competition, Qing Gang tries to comfort her in Episode 14. He learns from Xue Lu that she is competitive and craves for power because that is the only way to prevent people from looking down on her. Xue Lu’s mother was a courtesan and concubine. She committed suicide in exchange for the right for Xue Lu to be brought up in the Bai Manor. Xue Lu wants power so that she can bring back her mother’s memorial tablet to sit at the Bai family altar.
Qing Gang knows of Xue Lu’s various schemes in her effort to become the Empress but didn’t give up on her until Episode 34. He has given her his family heirloom in Episode 33 after they kissed. But Xue Lu was just distracting Qing Gang to steal the evidence of her brother’s traitorous deed which could implicate the whole Bai Clan and hence, her chance to become the Empress. Kong Sang’s interest is Qing Gang’s bottomline and it breaks her heart when he severs ties with her. When her brother intends to kill Qing Gang to hide his crime, Xue Lu stops him in Episode 34.
Xue Lu refuses to listen to her father’s orders to seduce Shi Ying in Episode 35. Qing Gang supports her and they leave Bai Manor together. They become a couple then. Qing Gang is appointed as King of Qing Clan and Xue Lu as the Queen of Bai Clan in Episode 38 and 39 respectively by Emperor Bei Mian.
Other Key Events
- Emperor Bei Mian allows Shi Yu to choose his own bride in Episode 20 when Consort Qing tries to recommend Xue Lu as his son’s potential marriage partner. Shi Yu chooses Xue Ying instead.
- Ke’erke kills himself in Episode 24 to atone for his mother’s sins and clear his tribe’s name. His mother colluded with the Principal Sorcerer who is Consort Qing’s spy to try to control Zhu Yan and create chaos but is stopped by Shi Ying.
- Shi Yu gives up his Crown Prince position and elopes with Xue Ying in Episode 31. They consummated their relationship in Episode 32.
- The High Priest extends Emperor Bei Mian’s life who is ill to get him to clear Shi Ying’s and Bai Yan’s names in Episode 37. Shi Ying gets back his prince status while Bai Yan is posthumously made Empress.
- Consort Qing kills herself in Episode 37 after being found out that she has poisoned Emperor Bei Mian. She had also poisoned Bai Yan which caused the latter to be disfavored and banished. Her brother, King of Qing Clan is also stripped of his position to be replaced by Qing Gang.
- Xue Lu apologizes to Zhu Yan for her past behavior in Episode 38 and they become friends. She and Qing Gang have saved Zhu Yan after the latter lost her senses to revive Shi Ying.
- The High Priest dies in Episode 38 to protect Shi Ying when the Ice Clan sorcerers try to kill the latter while he is undergoing his Tribulation of Hell.
- Zhu Yan’s parents committed suicide in Episode 40 to protect their daughter and the clan after being accused of colluding with the Merfolk Clan due to their association with Zhi Yuan.
- Emperor Bei Mian dies of illness in Episode 40.
The Longest Promise Review – Slow Burn Master-Disciple Romance
The Longest Promise has a forbidden master-disciple romance as its core. A word of warning is that this is an extremely slow burn romance with the couple getting together very, very late in the drama. So, don’t go into this expecting lots of passion. The romance is subtle with a fair bit of push and pull due to the circumstances and the male character’s status as a priest cultivator and master. Therefore, their feelings have to be denied and suppressed for the most part which is why it is slow burn unlike the more straightforward romance in Back To The Brink.
While the romance is an integral part of the story, there are many other elements that link to it. This includes the politics, a curse, revenge, a dark force, and unforgettable past love. The good news is that the story stays on course and doesn’t run all over the place. The sub-plots are tightly woven to the main plot. This means you won’t get lost as the story continues. The bad news is that there is no depth to some of these sub-plots. For instance, the backstory of the Ice Clan and God of Destruction is pretty shallow.
It is precisely this lack of depth that results in a messed-up ending in my opinion. I don’t find the ending to be rushed but it is the way the story has been scripted that makes it hard for viewers to get a good grip on the villain at the end.
Messed-Up Ending (Spoilers Alert!)
Personally, the ending is kind of messed up to me. There is not much set-up to the ultimate villain’s story and its motivation is shallow. So, the plot isn’t really that well-executed. This villain only becomes central to the story towards the end of the second last episode. It appears briefly here and there along the way but is never prominent. In fact, there is more attention given to other villains in the story.
Hence, when the drama starts to draw to a close, the ultimate villain’s appearance becomes sudden. The lead-up to its destruction also feels weird. It is as if the scriptwriter tries too hard to be creative and it simply ends up falling flat. Just like Till The End Of The Moon, the ending is also open to interpretation. You can take it as happy or bittersweet. But you might be bawling your eyes out moments prior to that. Thus, the lack of confirmation might just make you feel frustrated when the credits start to roll and you don’t get the answer that you want.
Not So Well-Written Female Character
Apart from the ending, the other potential issue with The Longest Promise is the start when viewers are confronted with an immature and reckless female character, Zhu Yan. I find her to be annoying at times and it did take me quite a bit of patience to get used to her character. No doubt, she is supposed to be a teenager in the story but this is typical in most xianxia and historical dramas whereby the female characters tend to be young.
To me, Zhu Yan’s character is poorly written and hence, not so likable. The needless obsession to revive the Crown Prince in the beginning and the thoughtless acts just don’t make her endearing. She does have her qualities and reasons which help to reduce the annoyance but I still find myself having to tolerate her at one point or another.
She does get better and more mature as the drama moves on but it takes more than 25 episodes before the annoyance completely goes away for me. Just like the character in Ancient Love Poetry, you might end up loving or hating Zhu Yan when the drama begins. If it is the latter, then be prepared to put up with her antics for a considerable amount of time or just learn to overlook her inadequacies to enjoy the story. However, the badly written character should be assessed separately from the acting.
Acting And Chemistry
Many C drama viewers would be familiar with Xiao Zhan after The Untamed but not Ren Min. I think both of them did fairly well in the portrayal of their characters. I won’t say they broke new grounds and their acting is memorable but they did manage to immerse themselves into their roles. Xiao Zhan portrayed Shi Ying as a detached priest but that coldness is tempered with kindness written in his expression. Hence, it is easy to like his character.
Ren Min has a harder job to make her character lovable given the script. Hence, I don’t blame her for putting off some viewers, myself included. In fact, I find she gave the character a realistic feel as she portrayed the immaturity and stubbornness well. That is how the character was written and it is the actress’ job to depict that personality and her actions.
Both the leads have enough chemistry to pull it off as a couple. It is not blazing chemistry like the leads in Love Between Fairy And Devil but just convincing enough to make you root for them. Perhaps the master-disciple relationship automatically makes the romance more muted and unequal. But overall, they are still watchable as lovers and their acting do make you feel emotionally affected during the heartbreaking moments.
My Verdict – Watchable Story
The Longest Promise is definitely a watchable drama with beautiful costumes and CGIs that point to a big budget production. The question is just whether there is an interesting plot and a script to make it truly epic. This is where it falls a little short to me. It is not a typical xianxia drama of immortals, demons, and tribulations which is refreshing. But it is also let down by an average script with a not so likable female protagonist.
Basically, if you find the female lead character annoying, the urge to continue watching will not be there. With the guy having to protect the girl on the quiet just makes that annoyance worse. Of course, if you like her character, then the drama will become more engrossing given the romance between them.
Since this is adapted from a novel, I don’t know how the story goes in the book. But on screen, the plot has quite a lot going on, albeit in a fairly simple manner. There is nothing elaborate on all the power struggles and schemings which also means there is a lack of depth on some of these villains and their sub-plots. That is why the script becomes average to me especially when the ultimate villain’s story is kind of meh towards the end.
For this The Longest Promise review, I would rate it 7.5/10. It is okay for a xianxia romance drama but nothing spectacular despite all the chatter. The visuals are beautiful with the great graphics and the acting is good overall. If you are a Xiao Zhan fan, I guess you can’t miss this. Whether this will be a heartfelt romance or otherwise boils down to how much you like the female character because this is essentially her story with her master.
I absolutely hated the FL and it didn’t help that I found her acting questionable. I was sure as time passed she was supposed to be in love with ML 2 and she acted out both deaths in a way that it seemed that way. I was really confused because she just didn’t seem nearly as into the ML.
Then I watched some BTS interviews and lo and behold but Ren Min actually admitted that she made a mistake in acting and totally missed the balance between ML and ML2 deaths and overdid it for ML2. No big deal girl, not like this was important or anything/s
I hope the next actress that plays with XZ has at least decent acting skills and more professionalism because this was a disaster, especially as he was so good throughout. He deserves better. All the actors did because apart from her, they were all good.
Omg you are correct. Zhu yan is very very very annoying. I am at episode 30 and i still find her annoying 🙄. In earlier episodes I tend to skip the parts whenever she sees master is like she forgets everything else and starts to annoy him.
Because I have the read the subtitle, I tend to not understand some episodes, so I would try to Google answers and came across your review. Thank you it helps alot. Who rules the #1 world and the #2 alchemist are my top favorite series.
I agreed, I find her so annoying and she also didn’t match him as a FL. The second FL was better.
Agreed. We all found Zhu Yan’s role annoying, not sure the acting like an underaged child was screenwriter’s or director’s intention or just poor acting. Loved Xiao Zhan and Allen Fang, but unfortunately, their leading roles were damaged by this female lead., which took up so much space that made them feel like supporting roles.
Agreed it was hard to watch her. I had to fast forward a lot of it because she was annoying
The Longest Promise is the best for me for 2023. Xiao Zhan was excellent as usual.The FL also did a good job with the script she wa given. Overall was a 9 for me. The production level, acting skills was also beautiful.
I liked ZY. I like straightforward people who speak their mind. I also loved she works stick up for friends who are being attacked or bullied. Too many times in drama, the bully gets away with things and it’s frustrating. Not here. ZY will jump in and not let them get away with it.
The lead actors delivered what the Director and Producer were looking to portray, or else the scenes would not be ‘wrapped’. The aesthetic visuals were stunning and transported you into a different realm. However, killing Zhi Yuan off for a second time was ridiculous and annoying, as was the whole ‘give the Preceptor his power back, just to kill him off again’. It felt like an anticlimax, the heartache with the gut wrenching loss was already conveyed and felt by the audience the first time around, repeating it left my family shouting ‘what and why at the tv’. The ending left us unfulfilled and did not come close to the so-called ‘air of mystery’ around the Preceptor’s reappearance that the Director was trying to convey. Overall, I believe all of the lead actors’ performances were strong, and the failings to end the series on a high note, were down to the script and the Director and not the cast. They wasted the opportunity to capitalise on a potential blockbuster and settled for a flat and lacklustre ending.
Absolutely correct, i stoped the movie at episode 20, because i got tired, and the plot was not so interesting, so i just gave up watching.
The ending sucked!
I liked it. I couldn’t get enough of it at some point (I found I’m a masochist when it comes to heartbreak so though I hated it, I really enjoyed the lead’s’ breakups).
I also found myself rooting for the 2ML. I found him adorably handsome and sweet. I felt for him more than for the ML for some reason. Like him being discriminated against for being from a different race when all he did the whole time was wholeheartedly babysit the FL was so sad and made me want to yank him out of there and bring him home with me. So I guess, like the FL’s great grandma, I was totally into the Merfolk (or maybe just Fang Yi Lun LOL).
Having said this, Zhao Xian was exquisite as always. His looks, his acting, etc.
I wasn’t particularly thrilled with the slow burn romance but I actually believe it. Young/playful FL and older/serious ML – I bought their acting. It made me keep watching till I encountered the final episode – which is when it all fell apart for me. WTH??!!! Why do the Cdramas and Kdramas do this? Why ruin something good at the very end??!! Like, all writers and directors missed the last day of school when the teacher lectured on how to do a good ending!!!
I was left so dissatisfied and frustrated. All that cultivation and magic and self-sacrifice in prior episodes to save the day just to die again…and so miserably at that. It’s not believable and it’s completely unnecessary.. And that overused open ending just sucks! It really really sucks butt, because it’s like someone else ate the cherry on the delicious ice cream you ate for 39 episodes and which you were looking forward to eating yourself!! It makes you want to smack it out of that someone!!
What on earth happened.
I just finished watching and am so disappointed, I feel like the initial screen writer went on annual leave, someone took over killed the cast, then then a the original came back, left again and the 2nd took over again killing the cast.
Complete kudos to the cast for performing so well with the script that was given to the satisfaction of the directors and producers. Shame it wasn’t to the satisfaction of the audience or to the author. So much potential for it to be on par with Ashes of Love, however that bridge was burned like the ashes of the deaths, resurrections and [again] deaths.
It was made clear that due to injury by the Ice Clan, Zhi Yuan’s wife [no children] was unable to reincarnate. How she became grandmother to Zhu Yan is questionable. But this fact was why she wasn’t meant to be a love interest to Zhi Yuan. When they resurrected Zhi Yuan they had the opportunity [if killing him off was essential] to have him reunited in spirit with his wife, but instead we were left morning his death twice.
Then we have poor Zhu Yan constantly crying (not the actress’ choice) and being directed to act like she is in love with both our male leads. This leads to a very confusing story line, especially when it’s repeated that Zhu Yan and Shi Ying are soul bound and bound by rings (rings that don’t keep them together when Shi Ying dies, gets resurrected, is striped of magic, regains it, then dies) On that note why the directors thought a bride would leave her marital bed after one night with her husband to save another man without informing her more powerful [now] husband and asking for help makes sense eludes me. Marriage is a partnership where you are meant to rely on each other, that’s common sense, so this scripting created frustration and confusion making our female lead look immature to say the least.
The final scene (1 year later) was brow furrower and one brow raiser. The production and scripting crew decided that she kept hold of a petal [and the rings they were bound to because Shi Ying’s fell off him instead of dissipating?] in mourning for 12 months only to learn she coul have released it immediately infusing magic to bring him back. Eternal Love explained why they had that for of resurrection, this ‘cliffhanger’ was irritating leaving unanswered questions.
There was so so much potential and I feel let down considering the great graphics and VFX as well as a gripping begining. I wish the cast are given greater scripts and story lines in the future, ideally one that follows the book [if it’s an adaption.]
Ren Min wasn’t directed to act as if she was in love with both. That was her choice and a bad one. She admits to it. I don’t expect much from her because if you look at BTS XZ had to tell her what to do in crucial moments. So much for an actress that finished university for this. How she isn’t able to differentiate between XY feelings for ML and ML2 is mind boggling.
Of course it is partially the directors fault because he should have seen the issue and reeled her back in. But in the end , it’s both their fault.
I love and enjoyed watching it.
I enjoyed the whole thing. I loved XZ in the untamed and watched this because of him. XZ did not disappoint. ML2 was unexpectedly handsome and had a gentle lovable character, he did well, I hope to see him in more C dramas. FL did great with the character she was given, kind of made me reflect and resonated a lot with some of my behaviours and qualities. The plot is like an emotional roller coaster, the touching heartbreaks, grief and moments of joy are worth the ride. The ending could have been better, it doesn’t count the sea emporer’s story line but the unseen threat that was there on and off. Xueying’s character reminds me of XZ’s sisters character in the untamed. I hope to see XZ and ML2 in another c drama real soon. Overall, I enjoyed the production as a whole, everyone done well in their roles and XZ looks like a naturally funny guy in real life
I enjoyed the show. I normally cannot stand this genre, but the longest promise’s plot actually made sense and its characters follows his or her logic lines. The set design, Choreography, Costumes, and special effects are all above par. Xianzhan and the other actors offers great acting. A good drama overall.
The end was rather disappointing.
I thought it was great. The acting, scenery and special effects were fantastic.. I do agree that the villains back stories were alittle shallow but I thought it was a 9/10. I hope there is a season 2.
I agree with you: the script was terrible, but maybe the censorship is also to blame, who knows. I watched the entire drama because of XZ, but it was a real torture. Some argue that it is Ren Min’s fault because she is not a good actress, but I have seen Ren Min in other works and she is very good, so I think the reason is another…. The script and direction are weak, that’s clear. I’m sorry for the actors.
Totally agree. The script was terrible, making the FL’s childlike acting totally unsuitable for the role.
I loved the production and was able to follow most of the interwoven intrigue. I find the C and K series are so very well done with beautiful scenery and excellent acting and enjoy these more than many American series or films. I was I. Tears at the end and left so sad not k owing what the last episode really meant. I assume it was meant to do that so we could decide if he would stay or only come when the Rosa bloomed or if they somehow figured out a co
Promise to suit the world they would love in to be the best it could be. Thanks for a wonderful production and loved the actors and hope to see many of them again
Xiao Zhang did a great job in his acting. But overall, some scenes were not well developed and some even misleading. For a romantic drama, there was much more work to be done and should not have rushed the ending which was the worst. I couldn’t understand whether Shi Ying returned at the end or was just an appearance for a moment.
Thank you so much for your Review! I’m watching it for XZ and I’m not enoying the series overall, and I’m having a hard time following it, so your Review was helpfull. But the costumes are really pretty and XZ is amazing.
It was only a 6/10 for me. Thé FL was immature at first but I expected her to mature with age and experience but unfortunately this doesn’t happen so she stays annoying to the end. Why is it that whenever a misunderstanding occurs the actors are never given the dialogue that any normal person would articulate to clear up the situation? This bug bear is in every KD I’ve ever watched! The ML is (always) a pleasure to watch, the sets, stunts, costumes were all 10’s. The only reasons I have for giving it a 6 are thé FL, the ending and inconsistencies in some of the relationships. Still worth a binge watch though.
I like the story. The cinematography, Xiao Zhan Acting is the best, Ren Min acting also performed well. I love the story. I keep watching it because i so love it. For me its like crouching tiger,hidden dragon. It 10/10 for me.