Love of Nirvana

Half Worth the Watch, At Least Not a Total Waste of Time

I don't even remember what I liked about this drama that i have endured the early eps. It's 40 episodes and is one of the longest dramas I've watched. And in the end, after finishing it, I can say it's half worth it, but probably because of the amazing performance and characters of both male leads. Don't get me wrong, the female lead is a great actress; I just don't like the damsel-in-distress type and the, what do you call that, naive type who claims that she doesn't know how to seduce men but has done all the things a man would fall for and claims that she didn't want that love at all, like what? I can't blame the second male lead for falling and obsessing over her. She clearly sent some signals unknowingly. I feel bad for the second male lead; he's such a good character at first but was driven mad by love and became obsessive. He's tragically begging for her love at any given chance, like, bro, there are many fishes in the sea; don't waste your time on someone who can't love you back. But I'm glad that in the end, he realized his obsession. It's just how the story is written; you're just not the female lead's type, haha. I really feel bad for him and at the same time admire that, until the end, you can still see in his eyes that he still loves her but is now ready to let go. I liked the male lead at first but lost interest probably at the same time when the female lead started becoming unbearable for me. Overall, not that worth of a watch; just felt pity for the second lead and just want to know how the story ends.

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Political intrigue

The plot centres around xiao wuxia who is eagerly seeking for justice for the people of yuelou,his father inclusive
I greatly enjoyed the first episode .the ml was focused on accomplishing his task of capturing teng rui which was ruined by the fl .
Pei Yans character initially was manipulative but later ,I was happy wen he decided to join hands with wei zhao .
All in all, the story was intriguing and I loved all the actors for the great work done .I liked the marital arts scene very clear and on point.
I too also liked Dr.cui character .for the first time , HE DESERVED THE BETTER

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The Jiang Ci Rule: A RANT

There is a special spot in hell reserved for this drama.

The only way that this drama can possibly work is if you imagine that it takes place in an alternate universe that completely revolves around one person - Jiang Ci. Everyone lives for Jiang Ci, everyone’s happiness is contingent on Jiang Ci’s safety, everyone’s goals, ambitions and shrewd lifestyle of precaution and careful planning can be thrown out the window the moment that they lay eyes on Jiang Ci.
This, what I’ve termed as the “Jiang Ci Rule”, is the fundamental rule of this world that the ML, the SML, and even her “Shifu” are all enslaved to live by. And every time you begin to understand a character - their motivations, their backstory, their train of logic - and their role begins to take life as a more 3-dimensional character with depth, the Jiang Ci Rule must be invoked to trample them down into a 2-dimensional puppet whose only purpose is to behave in whatever way because “the screenwriter said so.”

The show was promising in its exposition, but quickly derailed off of the tracks in a way that is unsalvageable.

THE EXPOSITION

The initial relationship between most of the characters made sense. The ML and the FL were true enemies, they didn’t know each other’s identities but they knew that they were not standing on the same side, as their plans were constantly being thwarted by each others presence. And while I disliked how Jiang Ci’s meddling always successfully ruined the ML’s well-crafted schemes, I understood that was her intention all along, as she did not know what he was scheming and why. And based on how they met, and on the upstanding man that she believed the SML to be, it is totally rational that, in her ignorance of the ML’s justice mission, she would default to taking the SML’s side and positioning herself as the obstacle to all the ML’s plans. While it is annoyingly that she is so presumptuous as to try to be the hero all the time and interfere in this political conflict for which she has no context, her actions can be reasoned away by her naivety and narcissistic “defender of justice” hero complex (unlikable, but not far-fetched).

THE CATALYST
** Spoilers Hereafter **

The first major sin happens after the elderly couple that had been helping the ML behind scenes are publicly tortured and killed by the SML. They would have never been captured and killed had the ML’s plans worked out up until now, but their deaths were caused by the multiple cracks that the FL over-eagerly wedged into the ML’s perfect schemes. And the ML seemed to agree with this conclusion before this scene, as he had just been water torturing the FL in prison because he blamed her for every comrade that died, or was maimed, had to go into hiding thanks to all of the FL’s interferences. So naturally he should blame her too for this (and the FL should’ve also realized her guilt at this point because she had not stopped to consider who she might be harming whenever she helped expose the ML’s plans). When the FL requests to meet the ML next, you would expect to hear some remorse, apologies and recognition of her guilt on the FL’s side, and a lot of blame and increased animosity towards her on the ML’s. But what does she do instead of apologizing? She launches into a story about a stray cat that once died and makes parallels to that and the death of this elderly couple to show that she can empathize with the ML. She assumes no fault at all and compares the lives of this loyal, misfortunate, suffering elderly couple to that of a stray cat. A logical response for the ML at this point in their relationship is to take offense at this and for his hatred for her to not be pacified. But this is the first time that the “Jiang Ci Rule” goes into effect, and the ML is softened to the FL as if their whole negativity history has been wiped clean by her pathetic attempt at sympathy. Somehow this, of all things, is the turning point where the ML chooses to forgive all the things that the FL has done to get in his way and inadvertently harm his people, and does a complete 180 degrees - going from wanting to manipulate, silence, and seek retribution from the FL, to wanting to defend, protect, and fall in love with the FL. It just makes no sense.

THE JOURNEY

Now that the leads are no longer enemies, the FL often tries to find a way to “save” the ML when she thinks he might get in trouble. This FL, who has no martial arts ability, no context for the political struggle going on, and no insight into the intricate plans that the ML is weaving, cannot let go of her meddling nature and allows herself to continue to be the catalyst for things going south in all of the MLs plans. Like when the ML goes to such lengths to help her escape from the SML after the ordeal in Nanning, and then she immediately returns, rendering all of his efforts in vain, because she needs to “save him” from having his identity as the assassin revealed thanks to the matching arrowhead. And how does she do this? By stealing the arrowhead in broad daylight and then running straight to the ML’s room, leaving muddy tracks leading right through his window to further incriminate him. If they weren’t fully convinced that he was the assassin before, those actions were most certainly the nail in the coffin. Moreover, as clever as the ML is, he too would’ve already figured out that the arrowhead would’ve incriminated him and came up with a backup plan, but after Jiang Ci’s actions there was no more denying it. And the most ridiculous part of this whole thing? When she arrives in his room, she begs him to not let the SML find her, don’t let him take her away. WTH???? He already did so much for you to escape before today and you threw it all away, and now you show up and say “I’m back, you have to protect me again now.” Does she not realize how much of a liability she makes herself by staying with him, or does she just not care and expect him to be fully willing to take on her baggage, no questions asked? But the Jiang Ci Rule exists, and so of course he hides her, he houses her for days, and he sorrowfully listens at night when she complains about “when will we be able to leave this place? My shifu’s waiting for me. My shifu, my shifu, I’m gonna miss my shifu.” HE ALREADY SENT YOU TO HER AND YOU CAME BACK OF YOUR OWN VOLITION TO CAUSE TROUBLE FOR HIM. What right does she have to complain in front of him and guilt him about her missing the meetup?? He should be growing annoyed with her by now, but instead I’m supposed to believe that these are the situations that make him fall in love with a bullheaded brat like her?
Or how about when they are in Yueluo on the day of the City Lord selection when he tells her to stay home, and she deliberately sneaks out and shows up in the city center. Because of her, she and Yu Lian and Le are spotted in the crowd by Hong Jie and they are later kidnapped in order to threaten the ML into handing over the jade hairpin. Hmmm, If only they weren’t spotted on that day, then they would never have been discovered as the ML’s affiliates. Hmmm, if only someone knew to tell them not to be seen outside that day… smh
With all this, every action that the FL makes has proven to be a thorn in the ML’s side, whether intentionally or not. And she never recognizes how much trouble she has caused, never takes responsibility for it, and still acts so brazenly wherever she goes, as if she deserves to hold her head high in front of everyone, because she’s just a carefree girl who has done them no harm. You cannot convince me that there is a romance developing between these two leads unless the ML has no concept of cause and effect. Maybe in his eyes, the FL is fearless, loyal, and stick to her own principles. But her fearlessness combined with willful ignorance and lack of ability constantly backfires on him. Her loyalty is an obstacle whenever the loyalty is blindly applied to those who stand on the opposite side of the ML. Her principles lead her to constantly thwart the ML’s plans as she does not what he instructs, but whatever she thinks is best in the moment. But the “Jiang Ci Rule” allows him to only see the virtuous causes of her actions, and not their disastrous effects. So much so that she becomes the person for whom he would constantly alter his well-crafted plans, and put her wellbeing and desires above the justice of the Yueluo people and the redemption of his father’s name that he had spent years of his like committed to seeking.

And then there is the SML, which is another extreme case of this. A man who had planned for years just to make a name for himself and redeem his father’s legacy, suddenly becomes obsessed with this one girl and would constantly sacrifices his reputation and his goals in order to forcefully bring her back into his household. He looks crazed half the time whenever Jiang Ci is mentioned, and I don’t even know why because they don’t have that much history with each other, and she told him very early on that she was not interested in him. Yet in every scheme he makes, he seems ready to sacrifice lives until he hears that Jiang Ci might be there, and then he’s running like the wind to protect her, and only her. Without reason she has become this prized jewel that does not have to do anything to earn undying devotion from him.

THE BREAKING POINT

So all this was frustrating, but I thought I could just grit my teeth and make it through the show if I just told myself that the SML is a lunatic that was written/acted poorly to be portrayed as a nonsensical love-obsessed archetype rather than a rational human being. And then I just had to close my eyes and pretend that there was no romance happening between the ML and FL, and he was tolerating her because he has way too much foresight and is playing the long game, so her little blunders actually are trivial to him.
But I absolutely had enough when the shifu entered the ring. This woman shows up on the day of what would be the final battle between YueLuo City and Lu Yu’s Liang forces, and she enters the battlefield dressed in a Liang army uniform and thinks, “this is the perfect time for me to attempt to reunite with my disciple. I see her on the battlefield, trying to protect the YueLuo people who are clearly being oppressed and about to be annihilated, and it is the perfect time for me to make a scene because everything is all about me and my disciple.” Like hello??? There are bigger things at hand right now than you and Jiang Ci. Didn’t she say that she was fond of YueLuo and always yearned for their bitterless congee? Now that they are fighting for their life, she thinks it is a good time to engage the ML (who is clearly the leader of YueLuo’s army) in combat and fight over this one girl? The women, children and elderly behind those city walls will all die if they lose this battle, but you really think this is an appropriate time to settle personal scores??? This can only be explained by the Jiang Ci Rule. Unless this entire world is meant to revolve solely around Jiang Ci, there is no way that the shifu would choose this battleground to make a move unless she really is a ruthless, evil person worthy of bring the main villain of this drama. Anyone whose behavior sends the message “whole cities may fall, and I will not be concerned, as long as I get my disciple back,” is not supposed to be viewed as a good or even neutral character in a show. And yet, when Jiang Ci sees her shifu fighting the ML, she behaves the exact same way! She starts crying like a baby and yelling “I’ll never forgive you if you hurt my shifu,” and her whole awareness of the battle that they are in is completely lost. Suddenly it is all about protecting the shifu from the ML, who is suddenly a bad guy in her mind? He wasn’t even trying to fight the shifu, he keeps telling her to calm down and he’ll explain things after the battle, but she refuses to back down and continues to attack him like a rabid animal unable to listen to reason. Yet in the FL’s eyes he not only is attacking her shifu, but he must have approached her intentionally from the start just so that he could hurt her shifu. Why would she jump to that conclusion in that moment??? The shifu was dressed in enemy army attire, it is more likely that he is attacking her thinking she is a member of the enemy army. But in her eyes he must immediately know who the shifu is and must be so desperate to harm her that he would prioritize attacking her now over finishing the battle to protect YueLuo that he is LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF FIGHTING. Because the world revolves around Jiang Ci and the people around her, everyone else is expendable. Just a few episodes ago the entire city BOWED DOWN to Jiang Ci to thank her for her efforts in curing the pandemic, and now on the main battlefield she is ignoring their plight to cause a scene and distract their leader from winning the battle, because the single life of her shifu is that much more important than every life saved in the city? And in doing so she obviously exposed herself as someone precious to the ML and the enemy took advantage of the conflict to kidnap her for use as a bargaining chip with the ML later. Thus, once again a decisive victory for the ML is thwarted by the FL appearing to endanger herself and give him a weakness that his enemy can use against him. The FL has forever been written to be a thorn in his side.

This was the breaking point. The ML, the SML and now even the shifu have been acting in ways that are unreasonable and can only be explained by blind obsession with and devotion to the FL. And it has blinded them all so much that the shifu directly inserted herself into the situation causing damage to the greater good, the SML has long lost sight of the greater good, and the ML still fights for the greater good but willingly humors the FL’s immaturity, self-serving sense of justice, and ignorance-fueled fearlessness that gravely hinders the greater good. As soon as the FL was captured I turned off the screen and refused to watch any more. Every character is insufferable and not worthy of a good ending, whatever misery comes next is well deserved. The ML and the people loyal to him are the only characters with redeeming qualities, but his indulgence of the FL will cause every one of them to be harmed in the end, and that’s not something I want to see.

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Fell a little short because of the romance

This story would have been much better if they left the romance completely out. I get that romance is CDrama’s kryptonite and without it, maybe some people won’t want to watch it but it is not needed in every drama. CDrama’s tend to try to force romance no matter if the situation is murky and it takes so much away from the story sometimes.

The Good

Started strong steeped in some mystery with a murder/revenge plot. The original plot was actually engaging and intriguing. The main characters were all setup nicely, had strong acting and were a great fit for their roles. Costumes, makeup, wigs and sets were decent as well.

The Bad

The romance. I love a good romance story like the next person but the connection between main leads felt lackluster and partly due to the extreme treatment he put her through. This caused a huge disconnection of even wanting to see romance or even believe it. Again, the romance was not needed or warranted after all he had done. It became forced and became the identity of the story as it went on towards the end. They could have been great allies since their stories intertwined but the shallow romance left the ending for the main FL unsatisfying for me. I also did not like that the two MLs were dubbed. I don’t think it was necessary since both can dub themselves.

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عالی بود

به نظر من بین سریالای رن جیالون دتبه ی دوم و داره الان توی قلبم ( بعد از یکه و تنها ) نقش اصلی دختر کاراکترش رو مخم بود ولی نقش اصلی پسر رو خیلی دوست داشتم و تمام قسمت هایی که توی یوئه لو بودن با تک تک اشکاش و ناراحتی هاش منم گریه کردم و واقعا درد و ناراحتی شو با تمام وجودم حس کردم ، اهنگای سریالم خیلی قشنگ بودن و تا پخش میشدن اشک منو درمیوردن

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JUST WATCH IT.

I am so beyond picky with historical cdramas, and I don't know how to express in words just how much it takes for me to actually get through one. Even with ones I like, I can't help but skip through and watch the parts that only stick out to me more. With Love of Nirvana, this was not the case.

I have some criteria that really determines whether I watch or not. The most important, is the characters. I am impressed with all three of our main leads in this drama. Truly, the actors did a phenomenal job as each was complex, flushed out, and most importantly, real. They aren't "perfect" people, which I tend to see in a lot of dramas. That makes it hard to connect with the characters but in this case, its clear that they are driven by their own motivations, conflicted, and so human I can actually sympathize with them all. Their intentions are not always clear, sometimes are questionable, but it makes it all the more intriguing to watch and remain captivated.

The FL is such a breath of fresh air. I really can't stand spineless characters as it just makes the show too draggy and I get impatient. While I do love a really badass FL too, sometimes cdramas fixate too much on that element which really washes out the character. Our FL has her strengths and weaknesses, but is overall quite clever and cheeky. I really love her character, and how she develops through the story.

Even our ML. Initially, I found him questionable but as the story unravels its interesting to learn more about him. Additionally, the progression of the relationships with this drama are more realistic and natural which makes them more believable. The side characters too are enjoyable. Sometimes cdramas focus only on the main cast, making the rest of the world more 2D but all the characters in this show played a role making the world feel more real.

Now the plot. Generally, I find it hard to really care and engage with the world in historical cdramas. Usually whatever is happening only processes on a very superficial level for me as I am more interested in the character dynamics and chemistry (which this drama definitely has). This drama keeps you on your toes. Along with the characters, things are unclear and only later revealed it just makes you want to keep watching. Scheming, plotting, unclear motivations, puzzles and mind games executed with characters who play the role just right. Some themes are heavier which I prefer especially when they are executed so brilliantly as in the case of this drama.

Even the music. Usually, I don't notice it but this drama did well in coupling the right music with certain scenes (seriously, I never really give this attention but this drama managed to make me notice).

Anyway, just watch it. I'm impressed with how sucked into the world I got with this drama. My watch style really doesn't mesh well with historical dramas as I find their plots to be too much effort and too lengthy to involve myself in. This drama really just hooked me though.

The only complaint I have is that it does start out stronger than it ends (I enjoyed the first half more than the second half).

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Drama focused more on theme

I liked the beginning of the story where the male protagonist, with his face covered by a mask, infiltrates a place to carry out an attack. The female protagonist unknowingly intervenes in his mission, putting him in a tough spot. He even considers killing her because he doesn't want any obstacles, even innocent ones, in his path.
This plot twist gave me goosebumps. Why? Because moments like this add spice and elevate the story.
As the story progresses, we see that the three main characters are all battling their personal struggles, each with a painful past. Their conflicts stem from these heart-wrenching histories. Initially, all three are suspicious of one another, dealing with each other cautiously. But later, we learn that two of their pasts are connected, and they then face emotions like revenge, hatred, jealousy, and love.

The drama doesn't have many romantic scenes, as it focuses more on the main theme. Except for two characters, the rest have happy endings.

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He's tried to kill her until he couldn't anymore.

This is a lovely drama. It's one of those dramas that hook you in each episode.
The FL and ML met by chance during an assassination attempt, which immediately turned them into enemies. He failed to kill her three times because she was simply too witty. Their relationship grows slowly throughout the story, and every encounter tugs at the heartstrings. The way they gradually develop feelings for each other is something to truly look forward to. The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. Don’t get me wrong—the story is very good—but as a fan of happy endings where the leads settle down together, I hated how it concluded with the ML dying. It's one of those stories when I want to get into the movie and prevent the leads from dying.

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A masterpiece

Love of Nirvana is a brilliantly acted drama that delivers depth, suspense, and emotional impact from start to finish. Ren Jialun’s portrayal of Wei Jiao is outstanding—his stoic strength, inner conflict, and sharp mind make him unforgettable. But what truly sets this drama apart is how every main character shines. Jeremy Xu commands the screen with his presence and strategy, giving his role a quiet intensity that's impossible to ignore. Li Landi brings intelligence, grace, and fierce determination to her character, proving she’s no damsel—she’s a force. The mental duels and emotional tension among the three are so well-balanced, it’s impossible to say who outshines the others. All are brilliant in their own right, making this drama a masterclass in storytelling and performance.

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