Very Bingeworthy! Watched most episodes in a fast marathon as they came out.

The Longest Promise was a series I waited for a while. So, when it dropped I was quite eager to discover what it was about. I binged the first six episodes like a whirlwind, and wanted to discover more immediately, so that was a good sign for me. After that, I suffered the wait for every episode. When they dropped the last episodes like a gift I was super excited. WeTV dished them out and I was there to eat until 3a.m. in the morning. What's work at 7am?? Let's just binge. ( ^_^) So, on binge-watching, the series hit the mark for me.

On the story, The Longest Promise delivers a very strong character named Shi Ying. I was 100% invested in discovering what would happen to him. Shi Ying carried the weight of the story. This feels like it is his journey, from closed off to outgoing, from indifferent to caring. Zhu Yan comes in to disrupt his carefully crafted world, and break into the shell he has built around his heart. She succeeds and boy was it cute watching him try to explain his feelings to Zhu Yan.
I loved how the director handled Shi Ying and Zhu Yan's relationship. Their relationship was not fast or easy. It was clumsy but full of growth. There was no sense of jumping into a relationship, but felt like two people learning how to connect with each other despite the many missteps and misunderstandings they endure.

Fave Characters:
- Shi Ying - I just love this character. He felt like the most thought out character in this story. His inclusive nature embraces every character and neutralizes some bad actors. He is soft where he needs to be, and hard and ruthless in situations that require it. I thought that was well done.
- Zhu Yan - I love her independent nature. She is a strong female character who does not allow herself to conform to the standard. Although, her righteousness did push my limits at some points. She had some near misses with some of her decisions that annoyed me, she has such a willful nature. But, she comes through and makes the right call where it matters. The book and the series are obviously two different things but, I have grievances. I wish they would have chosen to keep the original story line for Zhu Yan and Shi Ying.
- Chong Ming Daren - I love, love, love this majestic bird. I love his character so much, I just think it was perfect. He's the best friend everyone needs. That's whats up!
- Qing Gang - So, his loyalty to his love is amazing, rare and amazing. I love that his loyalty rewards him and he finds happiness.
- Visuals and CGI - The final fight had me glued to the screen with my sleepy bleary eyes, hardly able to look away. I loved it that much. The Longest Promise does deliver on the visuals. The only struggle of note was the water world when Zhu Yan would enter it with her merman. (that was hard.)

Struggles:
- Director-nim, I am sure there is someone in director school that keeps teaching to make an ending that is poetic or something. I am not into poetic ends. I love and support satisfying, smiling-inducing ends, especially after all the angst.
Shi Ying already stamped and signed the poetry, I'm all good with poetry. So, Director-nim should have given a clear ending. A clear smile-inducing ending. This one was good, just, there is nothing wrong with cooking up episode 41 showing how Shi Ying is ruling Kongsang into peace with Zhu Yan ruling him (hahaha) so she has all the power anyway.

In Conclusion
The Longest Promise delivers on an epic glance into Kongsang, a fantasy world, and the amazing characters who fight to protect it. The biggest guardian of this world is Shi Ying, who has suffered multiple grievances. Zhu Yan comes out as the character who loves this lonely character and gives him the strength to stand up against a diabolical villain. I loved their journey together, and hope you will too.

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