First Impressions: C-Drama "Everlasting Longing" Is A Saga On Love, Deception, And War

“Everlasting Longing” is an ambitious tale of love and longing amidst intrigue and strife. The drama is an adaptation of the novel “The Stolen Bride” by Xi Juan and stars Angelababy as the genius woman in disguise as a man and Song Wei Long as a ferocious warlord. As the two cross paths and become entwined with each other, there are several factors at play which will determine the course of their destiny together, or without each other. “Everlasting Longing” stands out for its production value, from the elaborate sets and costumes to the cleverly choreographed stunts as well as its stirring soundtrack. Here is what you can expect from “Everlasting Longing.”

Jun Qi Luo, a genius woman in disguise

Jun Qi Luo (Angelababy) leads a double life. Though the daughter of a merchant family, she lives under the guise of Jun Fei Fan, the illegitimate son of the Jun family. The reason is simple. As a woman she cannot succeed in the male-dominated world of trade. Neither can she use her sharp skill set, which includes her aptitude for designing weapons as well as machinery. She is not only a master smith par excellence but also has strong business acumen. Fei Fan has helped plan investments as well as set up collectives in Nan Yan, contributing to its thriving economy. The legend of Fei Fan has spread far and wide across the region. Fei Fan’s immense contributions also helped her family get goodwill and patronage from the King.

Adamant in her search to procure black granite to craft a distinct arrow, she decides to take a business trip to Xi Kang. The route is lawless and strife ridden as well as under the watch of bandits. She defies her father and sets off on the journey with a trusted companion. As her horses fall prey to horse plague, she tries to seek help from merchants, who are actually bandits in disguise. They are soon ambushed by the warlord of the Be Xiuan clan, Xuan Lie (Song Wei Long).

It is hate at first sight. Qi Luo/Fei Fan detests Xuan Lie for destroying her caravans and grievously injuring her trusted companion. And Xuan Lie is distrustful of this woman who is under the guise of a man. Xuan Lie is looking for Fei Fan for business purposes as well as a personal agenda.

Giving her identity as Qi Luo, she lies, saying she is actually the lover of Fei Fan. She is under disguise and is trying to reach him since he is way on business. At every step of the way, Qi Luo tries to outsmart Xuan Lie, who is well aware of her moves. He does his best to keep her in Bei Xuan until she helps him reach Fei Fan, and she tries to plot her escape whenever possible.

Xuan Lie makes no secret of his admiration for Qi Luo’s brilliance and says had she been part of his clan, he would make sure she held a powerful position, irrespective of gender. She finds herself drawn toward this strange man, who, though cold-blooded on the outside, is a compassionate man with a strong sense of loyalty.

The spark of attraction is strong, and the two fall in love. But what will happen when her identity is revealed? Also, being an outsider in a foreign land is easier said than done. She is vilified and accused of being a spy. Back home, her family is also being targeted by the King. She finds herself at a crossroads between her family and the man she loves.

Qi Luo is a strong character who often comes across as cold and uncaring, especially toward Xuan Lie. A woman who believes that political harmony is paramount, she is wiling to sacrifice her own personal feelings for Xuan Lie. And Angelababy skillfully articulates the character’s complex arc.

Xuan Lie, a progressive and shrewd general

Xuan Lie is the wolf lord. His towering presence, swathed in a heavy cape with fur trimmings and his self-assured gait, makes him a man you wouldn’t want to mess with. He is an invincible general, known for his skills in the martial arts as well as in war.

Xuan Lie is trying to investigate his parents’ murder and thinks Fei Fan could have the clue, since the arrow found in his father’s body was the one designed by Fei Fan’s family. He has been looking for ways to get to Fei Fan. He encounters Nan Yan after a skirmish in the lawless zone. Intrigued by Qi Luo, who is dressed as a man, he keeps asking for leads to Fei Fan and is constantly put off track by her.

However, he is impressed by Qi Luo, and his curiosity is piqued. She is not only an accomplished fighter but also knowledgable when it comes to weaponry and the politics of the time. He tells her that for him gender is not important. He admires intelligence and talent.

Xuan Lie is a liberal and has evolved with his ideas. He is also a leader who feels strongly for his people. He wants to unite the warring clans, improve the economy, and see his region prosper. He tells Qi Luo that he is interested to learn business as well from Fei Fan, and for him the development of Be Xiuan and its people is of utmost priority.

Though Xuan Lie has all reasons to mistrust Qi Luo, he entrusts her with a task. Xuan Lie has several enemies and there are constant attacks on his life. His friend tells him he is foolish to trust Qi Luo to help them get help when they are taken hostage by the enemy. However, Qi Luo doesn’t betray Xuan Lie and soon after we see a closeness develop between the two.

Sparks fly, and the two fall in love, but destiny has other things in store. The Be Xiuan princess is attracted to Xuan Lie, and he is forced to marry her. Though Xuan Lie holds love over everything else, Qi Luo thinks differently. She’d rather return home to her nation and doesn’t think love can fix everything in the world. Xuan Lie is a lonely man, who is constantly denied the happiness he seeks. As he finds himself in a web of deception including from the woman he loves, what can he do next?

Song Wei Long gets the tone right for his character. The physicality apart, he tries his best to articulate the emotions of this lonely and conflicted man.

Stunning costumes and impressive stunts

“Everlasting Longing” stays true to its essence as a costume drama. The styling of the characters in their vibrant ensembles with traditional motifs and accessories is breathtaking.

The men in the show, especially the Be Xiuan clan lead by Xuan Lie, stand out. Swathed in thick silks as well as heavy velvets with braided hair, they sport brassy hair accessories and make a striking and imposing appearance. Xian Lie as the wolf lord is constantly seen sporting a heavy cape in a palette of blues and grey lined with fur.

An action drama, “Everlasting Longing” also has some impressive choreographed stunt sequences. With the swift martial art styles from combat to sword fighting, it is amazing how fluidly and gracefully the cast moves despite being swathed in heavy costumes.

High on production values with its elaborate setting, the show also has a lilting soundtrack. The music very often highlights the emotion and depth in key moments. Even though the story can be formulaic, the performances by the ensemble cast make up for it. If you are a fan of romantic period dramas and the cast, this one is for you.

Start watching “Everlasting Longing”:

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Hey Soompiers, have you checked out “Everlasting Longing”? If so, what did you like about it? Let us know in the comments!

Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.