Everlasting Longing 2025: Chinese Drama Review

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review

Everlasting Longing aired its final episode (total of 30) on Tencent. This is the first costume drama I was fully invested in watching in 2025 lol! It is because it started out great. I enjoyed the scenery of the grasslands. I loved the theme - tribal conflicts/clan tension- and the two handsome Chinese actors, Song Weilong and Yao Chi, play the main roles. So I was drawn instantly. 

I am not so much on Angelababy, the first time I watched her in a costume drama was in General and I (2017) and that was one of the worst acting of a female lead I've ever watched so I was tentative with her presence in Everlasting Longing. She's pretty but she seems cannot find a balance of pulling the right of emotion required in a scene.

Okay, before going further with my review, here's the plot summary first:

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review

Everlasting Longing is set in the fictional warring kingdoms of Beixuan (nomadic/tribal kingdom) and Yannan, which is a Han Chinese dynasty. They are always at odds with peace negotiations and nowhere to go. Beixuan has always in mind to attack and invade Yannan due to its military arsenal. So, obviously Xuan Lie (Song Weilong), the leader of the Xuan clan, and Jun Qiluo/Jun Feifan (Angelababy) who is from the merchant family in Yannan, are enemies. She has a hidden identity of Jun Feifan, a formidable merchant and weapon designer, whose designed cross-bow, has killed the parents of Xuan Lie. 

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review
Song Weilong as Xuan Lie

The story begins when Jun Qiluo, accompanied by her bodyguard Shao Qimin (Ren Hao), travels to Xixiang to search for the black crystal iron mountain (black crystal iron will be used by Yannan to produce powerful weapons). However, upon reaching the Uncontrollable post, they were ambushed by bandits. They were rescued by Xuan Lie's group, only to be taken hostage by him.

Xuan Lie heard that the Yannan man he was looking for, Jun Feifan, was traveling with the caravan, so he made Jun Qiluo his hostage. He brought her to Beixuan, closely guarded, and interrogated about the whereabouts of Jun Feifan (not knowing that it's her). 

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review
Angelababy as Jun Qiluo/Jun Feifan

After so many twists and turns, Xuan Lie uncovered Jun Qiluo's identity but by that time, they had already fallen in love. She helped him secure the most coveted position in the Beixuan kingdom, the Wolf Lord. But when Xuan Lie found out that his cousin King wanted him to lead the army to attack Yannan, he backed off because he does not want to hurt Jun Qiluo who was already carrying their child.

The story shifted to Yannan when Jun Qiluo returned and Xuan Lie followed, and that's where the weak points and incoherence of the drama came in.

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review
Bai Bingke as Princess Qingkou

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review
Yao Chi as Luo Zhizhou

Review:

This drama started strong. I love the pacing of the story, the conflicts of Beixuan's different clans, the fight scenes, the scenery of the grasslands, the tribal politics, and the tension between the main characters. The good-looking casts are visual delights. I also like the energy of different characters. 

But when the story moves to Yannan, things become so illogical, and the drama shows its weakest points all throughout. The Yannan arc was so dull, and while I adored Xuan Lie and Jun Qiluo in the Beixuan arc, I was so pissed off with them when they moved to Yannan. 

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review

After securing the Wolf Lord post the hard way, Xuan Lie lost all the principles in life, gave up his dream to lead his tribe, and became a mere love-struck teenager. He lost all the attributes of a powerful nomadic tribe leader and became just a crying baby, chasing the woman who repeatedly turned him down. It really does not make sense. This part of the drama disconnected from the plot presented in the first episodes. 

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review
Song Weilong

The progress of the drama lost its meaning and became illogical. In other words, the story lost its momentum somewhere and was unable to sustain the strength it presented in the first half. I missed the old Xuan Lie, the imposing principled leader of the tribe who could fight the tyranny of the Beixuan king. 

Jun Qiluo started as a strong character too, smart, sharp, formidable, and obviously valued her family. But later, she became a pain in the neck, unable to resist the allure of her love to Xuan Lie, even to the point of putting her family in danger of execution for disloyalty. 

Qingkuo (played by Bai Bingke), the psycho spoiled princess of Beixuan, is the most annoying character in this drama from start to finish. Can't find any goodness in this character lol! Her selfishness is beyond comprehension. 

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review
Yao Chi as Luo Zhizhou

The only characters who are consistent among the main characters are Shao Min (Ren Hao), Sun Zhaomin (Wang Yiting) and Luo Zhizhuo (Yao Chi). I expected the fate of Shao Min that he would die in the end due to his unwavering loyalty to Jun Qiluo. Sun Zhaomin was nicely wrapped up as she finally proved her worth as a clan leader. But Luo Zhizhuo I think was unfairly wrapped up. They could have killed the tyrant Beixuan king than Luo Zhizhuo.

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review
Wang Yiting as Sun Zhaomin

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review
Xuan Lie and Luo Zhizhou, in the end they restored their brotherhood

If I have to rate this drama, it would be 5/10 because the first half of the drama, the Beixuan arc, was good and I enjoyed it haha! Nonetheless, I was able to finish it. Hope someday, Song Weilong can play a role that is consistent from start to finish not like this one.

Everlasting Longing Chinese Drama Review
Final scene of Sun Zhaomin

Final scene of Luo Zhizhou


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