The Longest Promise seamlessly combines elements of romance, fantasy, and historical fiction with its compelling storyline, breathtaking visuals, and heartfelt performances. The drama excels in showing flaws in every character, their reasons and developments - as well as angst because we swam in our tears, especially on EP35-40. Yet, we also get a good dose of comedy and precious squad.

While some viewers may find the initial pace slow, I must say it is definitely worth it since those are stages that patiently build the storyline. The gradual hints and beautifully crafted parallels in the subsequent episodes make the buildup truly rewarding.

The chemistry between the lead actors is palpable, their emotional connection drawing viewers into their world. There is hesitation, uncertainty, and some reasonable (and painful) misunderstandings. But most of all, I especially liked their determination in the final episodes to save the world together. It was refreshing to see both ML and FL fight side by side, with a promise to protect and support each other.

Visually, it has exquisite cinematography and lavish sets, that leave viewers amazed. Especially the dragon CGI was one of the best that I have seen recently.

The supporting cast adds depth and complexity to the story, with each character contributing to the richness of the narrative. Their motivations and interactions add layers of tension, ensuring a well-rounded experience.

Regarding the ending, I would say it's a "hopeful" open ending that hinted at happiness in previous episodes. As Shi Ying and Zhu Yan "promised" to find each other, and Zhu Yan mentioned how she never saw Shi Ying in her dreams for a year, I think it means he returned to her.

I also had been looking for flowers that can be an inspiration for the "Snowy Rosa" and I guess they used more than one reference for the flower. The closest one I could find was Yulan Magnolia, which has a tree that is named after the Chinese word "Yulan," which means "jade lily." The blooms typically appear in early spring and the flower is deeply associated with beauty, purity, and elegance. So it symbolizes the arrival of spring and the "renewal of life," which is also why I think Shi Ying returned to Zhu Yan once again (the first time being after their encounter as kids.)

Overall, I truly enjoyed this drama and think I will occasionally revisit it to watch my favorite scenes. I will also continue making edits / fmv for the drama, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI-LyvxxdMxDDA1gonAWMPAbp_5Sx-RWU