Zhu Yan (2023)

The Longest Promise - great storyline, acting, CGI...

I have finished 6 episodes of its 40 episodes and so glad it has 40 episodes because I can't get enough of it. Since The Longest Promise is a xianxia genre, there will be lots of CGI. So far, it has not disappoint. It's realistically done and not exaggerated. As for the acting, the cast is doing a fabulous job, especially Xiao Zhan who portrays Shi Ying. His acting is impeccable, and I appreciate that he's using his own voice! The costumes look exquisite, heavenly, and luxurious with their details. The story flows at a nice pace. Like I said, I can't get enough of this drama. Looking forward to each day of its airing.

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My all time favorite drama

The Longest Promise is finally here, the excitement, I have been waiting everyday for this drama to air!
I can’t believe I watched 6 episodes in a blink and thirsty for more. This is my first time watching Ren Min and she is great, I find her cute with natural beauty, she is not that type of annoying typical female lead always getting male lead in trouble. Her acting are natural not too cringe or awkward.
Of course, I am here for Xiao Zhan, he is never disappointed, his visual are over the top sometimes I got so distracted, how could a man so mesmerizing and ethereal. I am enjoying every moment and no time for skipping.

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肖戰和整個演員陣容都很棒。我喜歡這個故事和服裝。事實是，我關注XZ的事業好幾年了，每次他都成為更好的演員、歌手，但是

請留下惡意評論，他們有什麼理由？對鄰居沒有任何價值或愛的空虛之人不應該傷害那些只做自己喜歡做的事情的人的思想。肖戰和整個演員陣容都很棒。我喜歡這個故事和服裝。事實是，我關注XZ的事業好幾年了，每次他都成為更好的演員、歌手，但是

請留下惡意評論，他們有什麼理由？對鄰居沒有任何價值或愛的空虛之人不應該傷害那些只做自己喜歡做的事情的人的思想。 ♥️

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Decide to continue watching

I watched this drama to 6 episode so far and I like to write my review. First, I like the story so far ,some part make you laugh ( not like the type that unreasonable force laugh ) and some part may make you really sad and grief for ML . Second is acting part, all member portraying their part really well and I feel like this drama deserve to give high point ( not sure about later part though ) . It's disappointing that CG part is not so good in some part ( especially Chong Min bird 😑 ) but it doesn't bother me from watching 😁. To be conclude ,I like this drama a lot ( ML is so handsome and MC is cute 😁😁😁 )

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disappointing and confusing

Since Xiao Zhan is a popular idol I thought they would put more work into this drama but it's pretty disappointing everywhere from script to acting to production. A whole 6 episodes have gone by like this and it's simply not up to standard given the budget they are working with.

Plot as always is the biggest problem and it is very confusing if you haven't read the book. We start off episode 1 in the middle of a major plot point which is given no introduction. Sometimes this can work but the necessary background to the mermaid race, the lore of the way magic works, and so on are only vaguely implied through side character monologues instead of clearly explained. Further, each successive episode keeps piling on a handful of new characters from the source material and quickly jumping between them. It's hard to remember faces let alone backstory. Thus a whole bunch of people die in opening episodes without eliciting any emotional connection, which is just poor planning. Let me add that the source material is itself full of plot holes but the adaptation does not fix them, and all sorts of crazy coincidences and illogical decisions happen in order for the story to advance.

Central to the plot is supposed to be the romance but it's extremely strange due to the age gap and bad acting. Xiao Zhan has a very mature feeling from the beginning, after all he is thirty. Meanwhile Ren Ming as Zhu Yan very clearly is meant to be a young girl and spends her first few episodes dealing with teenager level cat fights. There's nothing inherently wrong with that but it makes it very strange that she becomes his only love interest. It doesn't help that the acting of the leads is lacking. Ren Ming is ok but her character is girly so can come across as tedious. However Xiao Zhan is also very limited, he is fine when he is acting like a cool guy but no good at expressing emotion in a natural way, e.g. the tribulation scene was so awkward.

The drama also has many embarrassing production details for something of this budget. For example, a villain speaks with a darth vader sound effect; it's very clear from the dance scenes none of the actresses have meaningful dance training (one of them was visibly struggling to maintain an upright pose in episode 5) but they insist on all of these long dance scenes; and low quality CGI animals are used.

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This drama is very good! The only one I like from episode one and which I do not fast forward!

I finished watching the 6 episodes and the drama started wonderfully! The CGI is brilliant! I love the cinematography. The desert shots are exceptional! I love the acting of the male lead. I like the female lead as well! I heard that people was complaining about her beauty etc! But for me her acting is good and it simply mind boggling that people would complain about her appearance when she looks very pretty. Why on earth that some people would like everyone to look alike, with the same face shape and that round face is terrible!! Personality and faces are unique to each person or else we won't be able to tell who is who! Unless her acting is terrible then that is something that people should complain about! I wonder if those people who is complaining about her appearance are beautiful but most likely are not!! Anyway, I love the drama and hopefully the plot for the remaining episodes will be exciting and not dragging which happens most of the times in these type of dramas!

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A great sample of incorrect casting.

Entire production is beyond expectations for this series. Beautiful sceneries, exceptional attention to detail is evident, CGI is decent, and wardrobe used was beautiful and fitted the scenes. Props were right for the scenes and quite imaginary for some of them.
The story plot is good, stable, and smooth, transitioning flawlessly. The start to me can be better than the way they introduced the story.

There was anticipation for another costume series for Xiao Zhan so many followers of The Untamed looked forward to The Longest Promise. This was filmed in 2021. I watched this on Tencent app.

XZ as expected did well in his role as Shi Ying by showing his versatility in acting. He effectively used appropriate facial expression to enhance each and every scenes he was on. Although I have to admit that he didn't look like a young teenager that the role calls for.

In this series, Ren Min played the female lead Zhu Yan. I find her portrayal of the character exaggerated and a bit forced. She did good as Princess Hui Rou in Serenade of Peaceful Joy where most probably know her. I will be bold to fault the screenwriter and director on this for their goal of portraying a cute, independent and brave young lady translated on the screen as a loud, arrogant, obnoxious, know it all, little girl that made me not want to hear her talk anymore; the start of my contemplation to drop the series.

Each artist is beautiful in different way but Wang Chu Ran ended up looking way better than her in looks and acting in this series. It is difficult not to notice the difference while watching them on screen. It felt like, she didn't fit in this series at all. There is no flexibility in Ren Min's beauty. She stayed looking cute & young little girl that even after the scenes transitioning to adulthood, she still looked cute and a girl. She wasnt able to transition her looks to a mature lady.
I cringed and fast forward on romantic scenes of her and XZ. It is like a little young girl flirting with an adult man.

Even with this though, I thought I will finish the series but it became a struggle for me to continue and decided to be honest with myself and drop it if i am not enjoying it.

Have the FL been casted with an artists that fits the character well, this series I believe would have had a much higher rating.

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Xiao Zhan’s Shi Ying

I love this character a lot.

When he’s introduced in the novel, he’s 20 years old. We meet a much younger Shi Ying in the drama, as a crown prince. He should be about 13 years old or younger. As expected of a crown prince, he’s mature from a very young age. His relationship with his father, the emperor, adds to his sensibility.
We meet Shi Ying again in Jiuyi Mountain. It’s been 5 years. He lives in seclusion in the mountain and does not concern himself with worldly affairs (aside from his mother).

Actor Xiao Zhan does a good job in humanizing Shi Ying. Based on the novel, Shi Ying can come out as cold and almost unfeeling but the drama’s Shi Ying is a gentle monster. He’s got a big heart and takes after his mother. Xiao Zhan is also good at nailing the micro expressions. You’ll know what I’m talking about in episodes 5.
What makes a project a success is the actor embodying the character. Xiao Zhan does this with all his characters. When I’m watching the Longest Promise, I don’t see Xiao Zhan, I see Shi Ying.
If I talk anymore then I’ll be spoiling it for those who haven’t watched the drama so please go watch and don’t be dissuaded by negative reviews. That’s just a basic lack of understanding on their part especially where Xiao Zhan is involved.
Happy watching!

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Xianxia (costume) drama that's based on a popular novel

Xianxia dramas are often mystical and magical. This drama is no exception and has all the right elements to make a fan of a costume drama to get hooked and fall for the superb casts, outstanding cinematography, breathtaking sceneries, solid storyline, and it has all the right combinations of romance, mystic, humour and angst. Watch Xiao Zhan the talented lead actor who plays ShiYing to sweep you off your feet with his visuals and top notch acting. A must watch indeed!
The OST is magical, and the plot stays true to the novel. It has all the blockbuster recipe of good vs evil and the casts are all talented and put on a very convincing portrayals of their character. A good and unforgettable xianxia dramas are rare indeed, but this one is a keeper. Just perfect!

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Xiao Zhan is beautiful as ShiYing

No doubt that Xiao Zhan is beautiful as ShiYing. So far i am loving the drama, the story line (i did not read the novel) . Xiao Zhan’s acting is great! Reminds me of Wei Wu Xian. The special effect is superb. I do noticed familiar shooting locations as Chen Qing Ling. My only reserve on this drama so far is the female lead. I will need to watch few more episodes to be able to evaluate the female lead again. I cannot feel the chemistry between Shi Ying and Zhu Yan yet. The other cast are OK. I like the relationship between Shi Ying and his companion Chong Ming. Cute like annoying didi

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I won’t lie, I am watching because of Xiao Zhan. However, after 8 eps in, I’m genuinely liking everything. This was one of the most anticipated works, as the trailers show a beautiful Xianxia drama and possibly a melancholy too. I was beyond excited when it was released. First ep, the CGI already caught my eye. As the plot is being set up and characters are being introduced, eps 1-4 are not very exciting. Although you should not expect emotional roller coasters during the first few eps, the important things that audience needs to know are delivered. For example, the strong bond between ShiYing (ML) and his mom, and the first encounter of ShiYing and ZhuYan (FL) and their fate. Beginning ep 5 the pace picks up and there is more that helps the audience understand why ShiYing would eventually fall in love with ZhuYan. It’s not the typical love at first sight or the I like you because you are my destiny type. ShiYing sees the warmth and stubbornness and energy that ZhuYan possesses, that energy ShiYing lacks because of his past. And I absolutely loved eps 7-8. The personality of ZhuYan comes out and the way ShiYing looks at her. Unfortunately ShiYing’s life is not full of happy memories, but I think ZhuYan will change that by adding more color and give him the love he desires. Now that I’ve talked about ZhuYan, let’s talk about ShiYing. Despite the hardships he encountered, I admire his endurance and his will to follow his mother’s words. He sees beyond just himself and he stays kind and simple. His world is small but it’s pure. He’s beautiful from the inside out. I can go on and on. I am super excited to see what’s next even if it will cost me lots of tears and heartbreaks.

Ah, I haven’t even gotten to the music and CGI and the other characters. Haha, I’ll leave that up to you to check out🤣

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