Nirvana in Fire (2015)

This was a phenomenon drama, really one of a kind. The casting was out of this world, the acting was just at another level, the soundtrack was amazing and it paired well with each of the scenes. This would be one of those dramas that I can watch over and over again. The storyline was epic and it was intriguing to follow through. There were so many parts of it that I couldn't help but cry for the main character and Hu Ge was just amazing in his performance. I fell in love with this series immediately and with each passing episode, I fell more in love each time.

Leia Mais

This story was brilliantly told if not portrayed. I loved everything about this drama and finished it less than a week.

The cast was outstanding and well-balanced. When emotions were to be conveyed they did such a wonderful job doing it that it would pull at the hardest heart strings of any viewer.
Mei Changsu planning was meticulous and his way of delving out justice was eye-opening as his agenda wasn't about getting revenge but making things right.

The bromance in this is by far the best I've ever seen...and I've watched a hell of a lot of dramas.

The reason I took off a half a point is because this is really like story-telling, there are some scenes I would have wished to have seen, but instead it was explained away instead.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good bromance, know what you getting into by reading the synopsis and okay with crying a few tears.

Leia Mais

A must watch political saga!

This is one of those shows that would define Chinese entertainment industry for me! I don’t know why it took me so long to watch it, at first I never paid attention to shows that were made before 2019, but on recommendation of a friend who has very similar tastes to mine, I decided to watch it. If I had to list everything I liked about this show, I would probably go on for 10,000 words and more! To put it briefly, the amazing cast, the superb acting, the believable character, excellent cinematography, the costumes, the soundtrack…..there isn’t a single thing about the show that needs improvement. Be it the lengthy political discourses and scheming, or the near perfect war scenes, there was never a dull moment in the entirety of the 54-episodes! Each and every character was played to perfection, and one cannot help but want to see the happy times last longer between Lin Shu and Xiao Jingyan, between Lin Shu and his beloved Duchess Nihuang, but it was enough that we didn’t have to see the ML dying, and it was just implied towards the end. I am now looking forward to watching the season 2, though not having the same characters there would be disheartening, seeing that the second season was as popular if not more, I believe that the production team would have spared no effort in bringing to us a drama that deserves to be seen and appreciated. If I could give Nirvana in fire 30 stars, I would, but I can safely list it among the ‘must watch once’ list.

Leia Mais

Not quite perfect, but not far, either.

My first foray into Asian dramas and I wasn't disappointed! It's an epic 100% worth the time and among the greatest of all time television series (including western TV). Costuming is so perfect you'll want to cry and the cast's acting and chemistry is unparalleled in anything I've seen before. Pacing is good and there is little filler, and I appreciate that a lot of things, sometimes huge things, happen unceremoniously offscreen. The show only rarely pontificates, repeats, or overexplains things; in other words, it doesn't treat the viewer like an idiot who can't keep up.

However, not knowing who Liu Tao was meant that I largely went "so what" over what little romance there was; what few scenes there were were out of place, not well written, and seemed to rely largely on her star power. Zzz.

I also wish there had been more intimate (platonic) scenes and between Su and Jing. I don't feel like their brotherhood was really given the time it deserved. Some flashbacks would have also helped illustrate just how deep their bond ran... because otherwise, we are just supposed to trust the things coming out of their mouths.

Chinese censorship is also felt through the lack of dimensionality - in Game of Thrones, you have several factions, some of whom have justified claims, and all of whom have their own (usually competing) interests. How those interests resolve is what made GOT so fun to watch, and its morally gray characters were some of the best characters in the series. By comparison, Nirvana in Fire just feels like it's lacking dynamism and, in the end, is very much just a "good guys vs bad guys" kind of show, which was a bit of a letdown to me.

All in all, it's a great show, definitely worth watching the entire 54 episodes at least once. However, I don't know that I personally will be rewatching it in its entirety, namely because while I loved many of the characters, the main protagonist and his shallow relationships left me with an apathetic feeling about the supposedly bittersweet events taking place. I'll likely go back and rewatch only a handful of episodes, particularly the ones around the spring hunt.

Leia Mais

binging this when i'm sick in the first week of new year with exams going on was not the best idea. a couple of boxes of tissues comes in handy because oh wow was this rollercoaster both emotional and iNTENSE.

it took me 5 tries to get into this drama because i'm an absolute clown listening to political talks. the first 3 or 4 episodes can be overwhelming with the amount of information bombarded at your face. on top of that, you have character names to remember. basically, you literally need to have an open mind like literally open your brain, have it turned on and make it function because you never know what impact those characters have on the story.

the charming points that caught my eye is ma boi sir su, ma girl princess nihuang, relatable meng zi, babie boi fei lu and hella fine prince jing.
ma boi sir su is such an admirable character that doesn't fail to interest me. he had everything planned to attain justice not for himself but for the many who had their reputations smudged by false facts that were made to be known for many years. he is not careless to make a single misstep and where there is one, he is quick to resolve the problem.

while the ending was emotional, i didn't feel like it was that climatic. what i do like is it leaves room for questions and makes me eager to watch season 2.

p.s. A+ for the beautiful ost, the pigeon and yes to the tangerines

Leia Mais

Yes, the characters jump 20 ft in the air. Yes, the tone can kind of be ridiculous sometimes and seem over the top. Yes, this is also one of the best shows I've ever watched in my life. THE STORY TELLING IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. The foreshadowing even from episode one is so clever and Mei Changsu is just SUCH A PROTAGONIST. Like I love crafty, scheming characters and he is no exception. His will to do anything in his power to receive justice and put Jingyan on the throne no matter what happens to him... Like his line about doing the things Jingyan won't be able to do like he really said I'll be the bad guy so you don't have to <3 like those two are INSANE. Mei Changsu is just a brilliantly written character. He's extremely sick and always one step away from death, but he's man on a very dedicated mission. And atp he really does have nothing to lose so ofc he's going to do the actual most and have all the audacity ever. Ugh i love him. That being said, I also ADORE Prince Jing as the justice focused, honorable soldier type who doesn't even want the throne until master manipulator Mei Changsu comes along. Jingyan and Changsu complement each other so well and just have one of the best dynamics of all time like YEAH THEY !!! Ofc the plots are so well thought-out and leave you on the edge of your seat and YEAH Jingrui's birthday party arc is my favorite arc of television EVER. NO ONE could've prepared me for the sheer insanity that I witnessed like just. HUHHHHH. How was any of that real... WHAT AN INSANE COUPLE OF EPS. And yeah that being said never invite Mei Changsu to your bday party. But yeah the plot is perfect and so brilliantly written and every single one of the twenty million characters are brilliantly. Yeah, it can be hard to keep track of all of them but they're all perfect. Commander Meng is loyal to a fault and such a fun character like what a guy I adore him. Fei Liu is just <333 Another loyal to a fault character he was just everything I love his dynamic with MCS. Prince Yu is so hilariously pathetic he's so funny. AND THEN THERES THE WOMEN !!!! Nihuang is perfect, Xia Dong is perfect, Consort Jing may be the best character in the show, AND THEN THERES BANRUO. No one has ever gaslit gatekept and girlbossed like her im absolutely OBSESSED WITH HER. Like Prince Yu is so STUPID he would be NOWHERE without Banruo. This show is just genuinely incredible and completely keeps your attention for all 50+ eps ugh i just truly am obsessed with this show its just so well written <33

Leia Mais

Possibly one of the best court dramas in any language

A piece of fiction that has all the basics covered. The plot is exiting at every instance, the characters intriguing. While there are many twists and turns that the side characters go through, we see the drama through the focal point of all those twists and hence, the audience is let in on all there is to the drama. The showrunners, therefore, counted on the characters to be relatable and flawed enough that their reactions to those twists to be the anticipated parts of the drama.

The overarching story, therefore, is very simple. It's a story about a man whose family and friends were wiped out by a proud, foolish emperor. Instead of revenge being his driving principle, he sought after seeking justice for their legacy and a better future of his homeland.

Music fixes a lot of the flaws of the drama. It has a romance plot between the protagonist and his former betrothed. Their relationship was sadly not explored enough but the saving grace was the acting and the music alleviated them as much as possible. A lot of characters were also not explored enough. Consort Jing for example never had any role in the story besides feeling sad for the past and helping her son and the main character. Unfortunately, almost all female characters in the story shared the same fate. They had no desires or interests of their own aside from helping the male figures closest to them.

But, despite its flaws, it is possibly one of the best court dramas ever made. It has the right pacing, the right plots, the right actors and the right dialogue to keep audience on their toes. The values espoused by this drama are the same as most dramas that tell age old tales of brotherhood, community and bravery. Hence, I recommend everyone to watch it. It has something for everyone.

Leia Mais

I usually dislike long drama series. Mostly because i find long serial drama has too much plots and it felt dragging. However, this is not the case with this drama. Each plot has reasons and justify the progress to the end. This is the exact example of well written script.

This drama is exceptional with the push of the talented actors and actress as well. Hu Ge especially has been able to display Lin shu's passion to clear his family and army which is hidden behind his frail body. His tale is indeed sad but inspiring. He is an amazing person who is also recieved love the most from everyone around him. All of his followers follow him not because of fear, but love and loyalty. He is an unforgetable character and has become one of my most fav too.

Another thing that I love is the fact that the story highlight the importance of loyalty, family love and amazing display strategies.
This drama is a total must watch.

Leia Mais

ABSOLUTE GEM

Do you know he was in a car accident and has to be out for a year or something. Didn’t know if he was ever going to walk again. The director decided they will wait for him to come back. No one else can replace him for this role. Notice his eye lid has a scar. He fought his way back against all odds. Bravo to Hu Ge !
NIF has all leading actors and actresses; there are no supporting. Everyone performed superbly of their roles. Each of their performance absolutely will make you BELIEVE in their struggle, love, care, goals, principle etc. their performances will draw you in emotionally and as if also physically. You’ll find your heart and breath skip the beat as you can feel their anguish, pain and happiness.
The whole story is so well coherently written and told. The plots and their exquisitely smart dialogues in each and every moment are all necessary; not more and not less …. Such perfection! The entire drama shows great respect to its audience with zero dumb or nonsense moments.
The costumes were rich, beautiful and elegant.
There’s so much depth in this drama and its pure beauty in conveying it to us make this drama 100% enjoyable watching it over and over and over again. Love it to death.

Leia Mais

I created an account for this site just to give this a review. Best thing I have ever watched.

Story/Script: This is not your average revenge drama. It's a story about wanting to set things right, to obtain justice for a case that was misjudged years ago and it's beautifully done. It may start a little slow, but rest assured that the pace will pick up. There are also some really funny but jokes/puns in the script which may be hard to get if you are not a native Chinese speaker, but they really add a lot to the drama.

Characters: Honestly the best part of this drama. They are complex, emotional, human characters. Unlike many other dramas which cause you to unconditionally hate the villains, the villains in NIF are just as human as the protagonists and have their own hardships and reasons.

Acting: Very well done and in character.

Music/setting: Beautiful music and amazing cinematography. The wordless opening is perfect and really gives you the feel of the drama through the use of music and art.

Rewatch: I have rewatched this a couple times and every time, I discover something new. Definitely worth several rewatches. The only thing is that the politics discussions get a little windy and so I often skip through those.

Truly a masterpiece. I understand many romance genre fans are unwilling to give this a chance due to the lack of romance, but romance is there (as is a lot of bromance), just not the main focus. The romance in NIF is a pure form of companionship/friendship which I honestly think is harder to achieve. Give it a try, and it may just top your list :)

Leia Mais

Becoming extinguished

Nirvana Fire - an appropriate title for this philosophical story. The meaning of Nirvana (via Britannica): Literally, it means “blowing out” or “becoming extinguished,” as when a flame is blown out or a fire burns out.

Quick summary: The story is incredibly well crafted; varied and complex characters; the plot was well paced and not too long at 54 episodes; ambience of music, cinematography, and costume was effective; there was a good balance between political intrigue, wuxia, military, romance, fantasy, etc.

The first few episodes can be confusing, so a character chart and episode recaps can help. However, the show is successful introducing characters, developing them, so that viewers get a clear grasp of what's going. When, for example, we meet Lin Chen in the first episode, then he disappears for 40 or so episodes, we are still well connected to him in his return at the end of the show.

Many characters besides Lin Chen were distinct and well-presented. It was a joy to watch their depth, development, and interaction with one another. I'll highlight a few gems. Because every character was so eloquent and precise in speech, Fei Liu's stunted and grunted speech was an effective counter point. Bai Li Qi, the northern fighter, was quite enjoyable (and cute). Consort Jing was impressive - the queen of "my pieces are moving on the board, but you can't see them in the first place". Eunuch Gao Zhan was subtly humorous and the perfect counter point to the Emperor. He had an awkward, yet charming smile. I won't even praise the main cast here because you'll undoubtedly agree how terrific they were.

Besides distinct and well-presented, most characters were complex and nuanced. Grand Princess Li Yang is a model character of complexity. Despite the awful circumstances of being forced into matrimony with Xie Yu, it's obvious they've grown great affection for one another. This character also outlines the moral/philosophical crux about this show. While Grand Princess Li Yang did some terrible things, she was able to reverse her path of moral degradation and contribute to something wholesome later on. Even though the truth of the Chiyan army massacre was covered up, seeking the truth while losing face, is the correct path. Looking at modern leaders who are wholly unapologetic for their mistakes or looking to rewrite history through propaganda and social ignorance, it's a reminder that this moral push and pull in the grand societal play is persistent like a good weed.

One thing this show got be thinking about was rebirth. Not so much in the 'wait til I die and start life again in a new form sense', but rather what change or 'rebirth' can one experience within the current life span. Many of the characters go through processes of change and, are effectively, a new form of themselves. And I wonder how distinct our life embodiment is vs. shared with others and carried forward by others. Lin Shu is reborn into Mei Changsu and then is reborn into Lin Shu again; it is as if he has had 3-lives in one lifespan. People's characters, goals, values, and dreams are also 'reborn' through others. For example, Prince Qi dies, but his life spirit is reborn through Prince Jing and others. We cultivate life spirit, disperse it to others, and don't need to count on death/rebirth to 'progress' again. The idea is not to wait to improve or change one's form in the next life and simply accept what one is now. Cultivate now.

Leia Mais

Another titular drama that deeply disappoints

My boyfriend and I discuss shows while we semi-watch them. Recently, none of the dramas has been interesting or good enough for us to sit idly by and stare at the screen. Thus, when a character is introduced on screen, we often predict where his/her alliance is, what will happen to the individual and the entire plot. Based on how highly rated this drama was, we tried our best to complete it. Episodes 1-5 were downright boring, episodes 6-15 were the highlight of this drama because this is when you are introduced to the supporting cast, the rest were predictable and truly not memorable. My least favourite characters were the protagonists. Throughout the entire drama, I felt no connection nor emotions for any of the characters (Lin Chen was my favourite and he barely had any scenes). Therefore, halfway into the show, my boyfriend played it in the background while he gamed and I worked.

Story:
This is probably the biggest reason why this title did not deserve so much hype. It was predictable from the beginning to the end, it did not help that the pace was so slow. The irony in this show was both amusing and annoying. The drama is named after Langya Bang, yet, it played almost no role in this story apart from setting it up. I found it irritating that the entire plot revolved around taking 'revenge', yet the protagonist is painted as a saint. The entire concept of exacting revenge on an Emperor who only did what all Kings do. It is as though this author and/or screenwriter has never had a history lesson. Despite throwing around words like 'ruthless' or 'cruel', the Emperor was none of those, he was a competent and selfish ruler, but many are. Moreover, it was clear from the beginning that the Emperor knew he had made a mistake, but one simply cannot change the past. As an Emperor, it was unlikely for him to admit he made such a huge mistake, this is normal and even common if we looked at history.

If we put aside the past, which obviously cannot be changed, Prince of Yu was the best candidate for Emperor. He was the most similar to the Emperor and hardly did anything one could deem to be too 'cruel'. It is a fight for the throne, he hadn't decapitated entire families or pillaged and raped, so what is the problem with throwing a few people under the bus for your dream job? One could argue that Lin Shu having thrown Jing Rui or the Empress under the bus is pretty much the same deal. HOWEVER, as a result of Lin Shu's meddling, we end up with Prince of Jing as the Emperor, who is just, but terrible in politics. I simply cannot imagine how he could rule. In the absence of Lin Shu, and filled with a courtroom of ministers with differing opinions, he is so inept that he would either crumble at the weight of the responsibility OR he would do what he wants (since he is so bloody stubborn), and is what he wants going to be the best for the country? One has to ask if he fits the bill of a ruler.

Prince of Jing is not very smart, he's not very good at planning or strategising, he's easily manipulated, even if by chance he was only manipulated in a positive manner by his trusted aide. If we were to boil it down to the real reason Lin Shu wants him in charge, it's mostly because of a he's-my-gay-bromance-and-a-good-guy sort of situation. Lol! It took his mother a mere couple of seconds to figure out that it was Lin Shu, and it took him well... THE REVEAL, to find out it was Lin Shu. Even as unbelievably stupid as one could be, seriously ROFL? Let's be frank, no one makes the good guy the CEO, you make the competent and smart guy the CEO. Why? Because that works. When you put all the puzzle pieces together, this is such a terrible political period piece because there was very little politics and almost no character development. Why anyone would call this title a great historical piece is laughable.

Acting/Cast:
This is the only redeeming factor. I have never seen many of the actors from this show, and one of the reasons my boyfriend and I had to rewatch episodes 1-3 approximately 5 times, is because of the lack of eye candies. We found none of the actors in this show physically appealing. Coupled with the slow pace and predictable plot, it was so difficult to focus. However, we held on and although I am deeply disappointed by the show, this cast did an excellent job. There were moments where the acting was stale or exaggerated, but otherwise, solid acting from nearly everyone.

Music:
A few decent pieces, but not crazy about the songs.

Conclusion:
A drag I had to sit through and would never rewatch. If you are into heavy plots and character development, skip this one. If you just need some decent acting because you are sick of terrible acting in C-drama, then, it's got potential. I was generous with the scoring mostly because of the acting, actors should not be penalised for bad screenwriting (or horribly misinformed authors who write mediocre novels).

Leia Mais