Nirvana in Fire (2015)

At last after almost 3yrs, I was able to finish this drama and still, my opinion is the same. Its boring. Its a highly political drama hence I understand that there's less action and more conversations but I didn't sign up for that. I remember I was watching Six Flying Dragons and Nirvana in Fire at the same time and dropped this because SFD though highly political, there are intense scenes and high profile characters that keeps the drama interesting. I picked this up again last month because I want to see why people are highly praising this. Yes, the story is solid, acting may be good, but the plot and execution is boring for me. The ending was expected though sad but unlike most historical cdramas, this one has tied most loose ends. But still, compared to the ones I have watched before with the same genre, I am not moved with this. 6/10 for me.

Leia Mais

this drama overrated

I found out this drama not as good what people said .. kind of boring a bit, fast forward quite a bit. I even didn't watch it for 3 days before continuing. May be because its to much for a matter about Huge sickness, No way to re watch this drama. Huge is great though but the rest just ok.. The story is good , but the ending not that good. I planning to watch the 2nd season, but not for now. I am sorry if my honest review is not like others, but it is my own opinion. It is overrated.

I found out this drama not as good what people said .. kind of boring a bit, fast forward quite a bit. I even didn't watch it for 3 days before continuing. May be because its to much for a matter about Huge sickness, No way to re watch this drama. Huge is great though but the rest just ok.. The story is good , but the ending not that good. I planning to watch the 2nd season, but not for now. I am sorry if my honest review is not like others, but it is my own opinion. It is overrated.

Leia Mais

This is my first time writing a review and it would just be me gushing about how brilliant this show is.
The execution of the story is truly remarkable, layers upon layers of the character's story woven into one big plot that was the main reason this story exists. The script is always spot on with getting the audiences engage in the story. And the directing as well as, the production of the drama is one of the best things this show has got to offer. The costumes, places, castings, cinematography, is top notch. Even though there are moments of editing that could be improved but those details were easily overpowered by all those I mentioned.
The casts all have their moments, especially towards the end. The revelations and the way they did it is just epic. It would surely hit you right in the feels and that is the reason why this show is so popular.
The women in NIF is one of the best aspects of the show as well.
In the end, just watch it !!!!!!!!!!

Leia Mais

This is a masterpiece. The story in itself beautifully written. The characters are well rounded, even the supporting characters' story-line are well developed. Coupled with perfect casting, you couldn't help but love the characters. Even for the villains, you could get their motivation and you'd get why they would act in a certain way (not in the sense that their actions were justified but because it's in their personality, "that's who they are"). The acting was solid. I loved how the director used subtle gestures and actions to convey the emotion of the characters like how he would zoom in on trembling hands to show anxiousness. The score was also great. It's not in your face like others in which you'd know that something is about to happen because of the music. It helped elevate the scene. My personal favorite is the humming version of Aging of Beauty.

I could talk about this all day but there is no better judge than yourself so go watch it. The pilot was good, you might be overwhelmed with the number of charters introduced in the first episode but you'll eventually get a hang of it. By the second episode, I was already hooked with the story and invested on the characters. If you are still not convinced, at least give this a shot till episode 12. By then if your still not invested then i don't know what to say anymore. :))

Leia Mais

This drama is amazing (very near to be perfect), there´s been a long time since I´ve see a story I love this much, and I’m talking about dramas, movies and books.
Since the beginning the plot is fast paced and keeps interesting all the time, building tension continuously I felt restless to know about what was happening. The plot never falls.
When there are so many intrigues and plotting characters its all about who can win over the enemies, and of course a great point about this drama is the fact that there are plenty intelligent characters and there is no weak point in the argument, everything is perfectly logical during the 54 episodes. You will enjoy this more if you like political dramas and palace conspiracies.
Of course this show is not all about fighting for power, beyond that there is one of the most emotional stories I have seen. This show is about revenge and the seek of justice, those two are important elements which set a clear goal to look for. But the drama is also about friendship, loyalty and morality, these things are important for the individual character development, but also for the relationships between them. But not everything is this highly mood, there are relieving moments and characters too, I got captivated with Fei Niao, he´s so cute.
Of course the characters are the core and all actors are exceptional. As I have said before, this drama is emotionally deep and every character portrays perfectly the situations around them.
The songs in Nirvana in Fire are a perfect addition to the general mood of the story, check out the lyrics they´re so perfect and emotional.

Leia Mais

Excellent Revenge Story

After watching "The Princess WeiYoung" I was desperate for another period drama with a strong revenge plot and deep romance to move me to tears and give me a satisfying feeling. I scoured websites looking for similar shows, and this show was recommended to me. So I started watching. This was very different from WeiYoung because there was minimal romance, the main character was a man, the drama was way more believable, and less annoying and the revenge was a slow moving magma. It took me a while to get into, but slowly but surely the plotting was on. The schemes were taking hold and they wouldn't let go. By the end of the show I was in tears, and begging for more! Tears of joy, and sadness, and satisfaction. I'm disappointed there wasn't more romance, but honestly... I have to say that's about my only disappointment.



At first I wasn't impressed by the main character as I couldn't get a good feel for him, and found him way too cold and cavalier. He didn't have that burning passion that most main characters do. But Prince Jing Yang made up for it I suppose, and the main character eventually gets a bit fiery. The music was nice, I enjoyed the ending theme. I really love that the intro and the outro don't give anything away like most Chinese drama's do. The acting was A+! really pulled me in and had me getting the feels. Story was amazing. Took me a while to put the entire family tree together and piece it together with the story but that's minor.



By the end all those long episodes came together rather nicely, and I didn't even notice the slowness anymore. I was racing through all the episodes by the time things started taking shape. The revenge is sweet and the ending is sweet with a hint of bitter. But it's worth it. I wouldn't rewatch anytime soon because I prefer faster moving stories, and I am also not one to rewatch shows. But maybe one day many years from now I might. HOWEVER, if YOU are reading this and are curious about whether or not you should invest your time? I have two words for you: WATCH. IT.

Leia Mais

Beautifully interwoven story

This is probably the best Chinese drama I have watched to-date. I gave a 10 for almost every attributes. The acting was first class - leading and supporting actors and actresses were all impressive, besides being good-looking. There was no lull moment. The plot was very well woven. The lead characters, Hu Ge and Liu Tao had excellent chemistry. The heart wrenching and gut rending moments made me cry and I do not cry easily. If I am to find any fault is the ending left me unhappy for a couple of days. The lead characters deserved better. But that is life - not everything ends happily. Later I found out that there was actually a clip which suggested a happier ending - I would have prefer if that was chosen instead.

But there were some flaws - the appearance of the white-haired monster and the medical explanation for it was ridiculous. For a historic epic, there should be a more realistic medical case. If this is a fantasy drama, I would accept that. For this I took half a point off the story.

Leia Mais

Series that deserves its reputation TOP 10 History

Great epic series about power struggles, with a suspicious emperor, who kills his own sons.

PLOT: The emperor ordered the killing of Prince Qi (one of his sons) suspected of mounting a rebellion, as well as his 70,000 soldiers. Only Ling Shu, the nevew, survived, seriously injured. He returns 13 years later, as an advisor/strategist, ill and having changed his appearance, determined to clear the prince Qi's name. To do this, he must put the only non-“rotten” Prince, Xiao Jing Yan, in power.
=> House of cards.

+++ A great cast, with great actors. They make us experience this story intensely. Well done !!
+++ The production is without length, well done, with the right balance of brotherhood, shenanigans/mind games, emotions and action, a little touch of humor to lighten the hard times.
+++ The story is realistic, coherent, credible.
+++ The sets, the costumes, the landscapes, ... are superb.
+++ The OSTs are well suited. They are not memorable, but amplify the emotions of each scene.

=> It's rare that I immerse myself in a pure historical drama, without any romance, with so much passion!! I will definitely rewatch this cult series in some time.

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Série qui mérite sa réputation TOP 10 Historique

Grande épopée sur les luttes de pouvoir, avec un empereur soupçonneux, qui tue ses propres fils.
PLOT : L'empereur a ordonné la mise à mort du Prince Qi (un de ses fils) soupçonné de monter une rébellion, ainsi que ses 70000 soldats. Seul Ling Shu, le petit-fils, a survécu, gravement blessé. Il revient 13 ans + tard, comme conseiller / stratège, malade et ayant changé d'apparence, bien décidé à laver le nom de son père. Pour cela, il doit faire mettre au pouvoir le seul Prince non "pourri" Xiao Jing Yan.
=> House of cards.

+++ Un cast d'enfer, avec de super acteurs. Ils nous font vivre cette histoire intensément. Bravo !!
+++ La réalisation est sans longueur, bien menée, avec le juste équilibre de bromance/fraternité, manigances/jeux d'esprit, émotions et action, une petite touche d'humour pour alléger les moments durs.
+++ L'histoire est réaliste, cohérente, crédible.
+++ Les décors, les costumes, les paysages, ... sont superbes.
+++ Les OST sont bien adaptés. Elles ne sont pas mémorables, mais amplifient les émotions de chaque scène.

=> C'est rare que je me plonge dans un pur drama historique, sans romance, avec autant de passion !! Je reverrai certainement cette série culte dans quelque temps.

Leia Mais

This is one of the most intelligent, thought-provoking series I ever watch, and one of the most emotionally gut wrenching. The writing is top notch, with intricate plotting and well-developed characters. It also has a stellar core cast. Each actor deserves to be called out by name and each performance is worth a detailed analysis. This show gives viewers a lot to dissect and talk about long after the story ends.

Hu Ge, with his chiseled good looks, is the undisputed Su Zhe. I always think his face is far too thin and his shoulders too narrow, but this makes him physically perfect to play the sickly Su Zhe. He has a naturally melancholy face and a haunted look that’s almost eerie, fitting for a man coming back from the dead. The best part of his acting is his body language. You can see the subtle differences in his posture when he is calculating and determined, compared to when he feels hurt and tortured. His is a carefully crafted and deliberate performance. Credit to the director for taking advantage of Hu Ge’s strength as an actor.

Wang Kai, with his chiseled good looks, is the undisputed Prince Jing. This man is hotheaded, impulsive, and inflexible at times. He will stand by what is right even if it kills him (and possibly his followers, too). The good thing about him is that he's fully aware of his own faults and willing to shoulder the consequences of his actions. Unlike the stoic Su Zhe, the prince wears his heart on his sleeve, which is why Wang Kai is ideal for the role. Other than looking ultra-masculine, he has very expressive eyes that hint to all sorts of emotions boiling beneath the surface. In real life, a man with such a pure heart will find it near impossible to make it far in politics. But if Prince Jing ever make it to the top, you know he will make the world a better place.

Su Zhe and Prince Jing do make a great team, with one serving as the brain and the other the heart of the operation. They are each other’s foil, each making up for the qualities that the other person lacks. Their friendship and their struggle give us hope that we can change the world without sacrificing our integrity and the very things that make us human. Hu and Wang is one of the greatest onscreen duo ever. Every scene with the two of them is worth watching and rewatching.

Also worth rewatching are scenes where the men engaged in a battle of wits and will: Su Zhe vs. Xia Yu, Su Zhe vs. Xia Jiang, Xia Jiang vs. Yan Que, Su Zhe vs. Emperor, Prince Jing vs. Emperor. These scenes are a thousand times more suspenseful than the bloody battle sequences. They lead you to question what kind of life is worth living, and what kind of things are worth fighting and dying for.

Romance is never the focus here. Prince Jing’s wife is barely a blip and Su Zhe’s relationship with Princess Ni Huang is sidelined for most of the series. Liu Tao really shines as Ni Huang in the last few episodes. I never knew she has such a beautiful singing voice.

The first 20-plus episodes are draggy, to the point that I almost quit watching. There is an excessive use of deus ex machina. Minor characters that you really don’t care about pop in and out of the story. A lot of time is wasted on watching people bow to each other and walk around. I get the need to properly set up the story and characters, but this is just an inefficient use of screentime.

The direction is weirdly inconsistent. It feels like there’s two different directors at work here. The acting can be “pose-y” and a little unnatural in some scenes. Sometimes the actors just stand around like mannequins on display. Maybe it’s a stylistic choice, but it’s not one that I personally like.

Despite the flaws, this series will always be a classic to me.

Leia Mais

Epic Period Drama

Yeah, I understand now why this is an epic drama, by the end of if I was so involved with the story and all the characters. Good end as well, bittersweet, as expected of Chinese dramas.
The production did a good job, very well-made.
The actors are wonderful, they really capture the emotions. What was different for me is the age/looks of the actors, usually they look younger in recent dramas, but this is not a complaint, I liked the more realist aspect of it.
I do have to say that some plots should be better explored, like the poison thing and his relationship with the jianghu world. Also, there are some plots that made me mad that he didn't see it coming, were you not the good one?
Well, do watch it, it's worth your time.

Leia Mais

I was quite hesitant and failed many attempts to start watching this drama at first, as I have watched Nirvana in Fire 2 first because of Liu Haoran. The sequel had caused me quite amount of heartache because of the plots like false accusations, nonsense doubts, and some tragic events taken place; but luckily, it at least gave me, personally, a satisfied ending. I actually did not like the kind of drama that involves political fights and royal throne that much, but NIF2 really put me in awe. So, I then decided to go and check for its prequel which is the Langya Bang. Through reading the synopsis and reviews and all, I have found the prequel is quite more popular than the NIF2. However, at the time, I was very hesitant and did not start NIF right away until for like a year or so later after I have watched NIF2, mainly because I thought it’s darker and more heartbreaking than that of the NIF2. And I am not ready to go on another emotional roller coaster ride. Just yet.

However, after I have watched “Joy of Life”, I then finally have the courage to start the series. NIF really is one of the masterpiece. The storyline is very well-written and the casts are very portrayed, acted, and immersing. To achieve the goal of uncovering the bitter truth of the past false accusations, the main character meticulously planned each step and carefully studied the political environment in the Capital and across ministries. The processes and events to uncover the truth is very well carried out and each plot makes so much sense and very logical. There are so many aspects of the drama that makes me feel so attached including the emotional attachments among the characters creating a perfect world for the drama to exist. The OST are also very emotional and very well reflect the storyline of the drama itself. Overall, this drama is superb, fantastically great in every aspects that the writer, the director, and the actors intend to offer to the viewers; in comparison to the dramas I came across so far.

I highly recommended you to give this drama a try, as it will not only bring you to an exciting and emotional journey, but offers you some excellent life lessons as well.

Leia Mais

One word to describe this drama. Great!
This was a phenomenal drama.
I will admit I was skeptical about how good this drama was. I was watching it waiting for the shoe to drop, but my head is still intact and I completed the drama. I was truly amazed at how well written and acted this drama was.
Pros:
1. This was a drama about the throne without the 'drama' of the throne just the 'game' of the throne.
2. Although you knew the ending of the drama by episode 10 you still could not predict what would happen and the ending still surprised you.
3. Brains will always win.

Cons: There was no romance of any kind! I repeat! no romance even though there were marriages.

Leia Mais