{year}=2025{episode}=EP.16{type}=TV{ongoing}
Review
Set in a fictional era across three neighboring kingdoms - Nan Yan in the south, Bei Xuan in the north, and Xixiang in the west - "Eternal Waiting" spins a tale of romance and passion. In Nan Yan, a talented girl from a merchant family disguises herself as a man to run her family's business. She is also the secret descendant of a master craftsman known for designing sophisticated machinery and weapons. In search of a metal-like granite to forge a unique arrow, she travels to the city of Bei Xuan, where she meets and falls in love with a man who is searching for answers about the deaths of his parents twelve years ago. The arrow found in his father's body was designed by her family, giving her a vital clue. While he searches for a way to keep her in Bei Xuan, she remains until her king, suspecting treason, arrests her family and threatens their lives unless she returns. Meanwhile, the man she loves is forced to marry another woman, forcing her to leave heartbroken.
Character and Performance
Jun Qi Luo / Jun Fei Fan:
As a woman, she is known as Jun Qi Luo; as a man, Jun Fei Fan. Intelligent, beautiful, brave, and calm under pressure, Jun Qi Luo is a compelling character. However, Angelababy's performance is short-lived, with inconsistent facial expressions that don't capture the essence of the character, often making her more annoying than endearing.
Xuan Lie:
Despite coming from a bloodthirsty tribe, Xuan Lie is kind and intelligent. As the warlord of his tribe, he strives to unite the other four tribes to strengthen the Bei Xuan kingdom. While Song Wei Long's commanding presence fits the role, his acting leaves room for improvement. With his wolf-like style, his towering presence, and fur coat, he conveys the fearsome wolf lord, but the heavy makeup, emphasizing his nose, gives him the appearance of an eagle.
Other Main Characters:
Surprisingly, I found the other main characters like Shao Qi Min and Luo Zhi Zhou and their respective actors to be more convincing than the lead. Bai Bing Ke deserves praise for her portrayal of Princess Xuan Qing Kou, with a masterful voice that makes the character so emotional. My favorite character is Luo Qi (Chen Tao), Xuan Lie's sidekick and almost his brother. Chen Tao's performance is commendable with a kind face that compliments Xuan Lie's cool appearance very well. My favorite character is Jun Yu Jue, Jun Qi Luo's first cousin. Greedy, evil, and cartoonishly exaggerated, Wu Yi Jia's performance, while over the top, captures the despicable nature of the role.
OST
The original soundtrack is a pleasant surprise, heightening the mood of key scenes and adding a layer of depth that the story sometimes lacks.
Final Thoughts
"Eternal Waiting" relies heavily on well-worn costumes and predictable tropes - falling off cliffs, women disguised as men, and forced marriages. The story unfolds in two parts, with the first set in Bei Xuan and the second set in Nan Yan focusing on the issue of love versus duty. While Xuan Lie prioritizes love above all else, Jun Qi Luo believes that without racial harmony, there can be no foundation for love.
Despite the actual kissing scene, the chemistry between Song Wei Long and Angelababy falls flat, with Song Wei Long appearing more intimate than his co-stars. The plot constantly defies logic, making the story feel like a forced twist of development. One of the strangest reasons is Jun Qi Luo's decision to break up her own family in order to find peace, and the absurd timing at the end only adds to the disconnect.
That said, the credit goes to the elaborate setting and strong performances from the supporting cast, which ultimately breathe life into the story.
If you're a fan of Angelababy or Song Wei Long, or a couch potato like me, you'll probably still enjoy this despite its many shortcomings, but if you're looking for a story with depth and coherence,
