I mainly watch modern cdramas, so for a historical drama this long to actually stick is a rare event.

The Long Ballad was not perfect, but it was pretty close to it. Each character has an enormous and very evident arc throughout the story, each one very different from the last. That kept me hooked even when the focus was away from the main characters.

The romance was not really a part of the story, and it didn't need to be. After doing some research on why the leads never kissed, I was more lenient about the directors choice to leave that out. Even so, the subtle interactions between couples were so precious and really helped move the story.

The plot was also an amazing addition to the drama. The several elements incorporated into the story really helped move it along. It was fast paced, but not enough for the viewer to fall behind. No storyline was continued for too long, and most loose ends were tied. I also loved to see a strong female lead and the other female lead become super strong over the course of her story arc. The male lead also did an amazing job. I loved Wu Lei's acting. Additionally, Liu Yu Ning's character (Hao Du) had an excellent story arc, his arguably being the most surprising. It was so exciting to see his character grow to care about more beyond his role in the palace. The writers really didn't fail to keep things interesting at all times!

I was constantly looking forward to the next episode. The production was a tiny, tiny bit below what it should have been at times, but not enough to be noticeable. I did see some editing discontinuities from time to time, and a few music issues as well. Aside from that, it was flawless.

This historical is definitely going down as a top 2021 drama, and everyone should definitely give it a watch!