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.
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Joy of Life is a lot more interesting
If you were wondering why everyone recommends this drama, perhaps this was a hit at a time where the audience was sick of being delivered idol dramas or poorly produced narratives that only served best as an accompaniment to doing work or chores around the house. For these viewers, this might have been a refreshing piece in cdramaland to alleviate the pain of having to suffer the insult of being patronised by aforementioned productions featuring flimsy writing, careless direction, and talentless actors who scored roles solely due to their popularity.However, despite it being a revered drama, it falls short on delivering excellence, and is at best, a drama you cannot label as an 'idol' drama. I want to be frank and say here that, just because a production doesn't have young, pretty liuliangs, it doesn't necessarily mean that the drama will be a 'good' one, just because it is deemed 'serious'.
Firstly, the acting was standard, (subpar for Liu Tao), the leads had no screen presence, the actors had no chemistry, and the biggest problem with the premise is that you don't really believe in the brotherhood between the two main characters. If we are to care about the protagonist at all, we should be able to feel the care he has for both his longtime friend and his past lover, but all I felt was his love for chess play, allbeit in his detached manner.
This comes to another major weakness of the drama, which is Hu Ge's interpretation of the character which seemed rather superficial. While he portrayed the intelligence of the character, I wasn't convinced that he was a humane, layered being with varying emotions. I didn't feel the connection between himself and his friend, and the love story felt unnecessary. Hu Ge's inability to convey poignant moments also made it difficult for me to empathise with his character and it made it hard for me to believe that he had any himself.
While Joy of Life definitely has its flaws, the amazing storyline, fast-paced direction, and strong characterisation will leave you more than satisfied if a serious, political intrigue drama is what you're into.
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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 !!!!!!!!!!
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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. :))
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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.
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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.
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A must watch drama!
From the intricately woven plot to the stellar performances, this drama was nothing short of exceptional. The narrative was brilliantly crafted, keeping me engaged at every turn, while the actors delivered performances that brought depth and authenticity to their characters. As the story progressed, I found myself increasingly immersed, constantly anticipating the protagonist’s next move. A truly rare 10/10 drama that sets a high standard for the genre.*you can skip season 2
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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.
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This review may contain spoilers
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.
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Brilliant breakthrough plan
I can’t believe I’ve finally finished this series! I had tried so many times to start it, but after 5–6 episodes I would always drop it. I kept feeling like this drama was just hype and nothing special. (But I was TOTALLY wrong!)After going back and forth so many times on whether to watch it or not, I finally decided to give it a real try — and I can’t believe I became such a fan of this brilliant series.
Mei Changsu: A brilliant character who fights battles without a sword, because his mind is a thousand times more powerful than any weapon.
If you are looking for a good story and great casting, this drama is definitely for you. But if you are looking mainly for beautiful scenery, extravagant costumes, or glamorous faces, then this might not be the one.
What I loved most is that the drama doesn’t rely on overdone makeup, heavy jewelry, or painted faces. Instead, it feels real and original — like we are seeing genuine people who truly belong in the story.
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Best Series I've ever watched
STORY - 10/10It is undeniable that "Nirvana in Fire" is one of the most rewatched and acclaimed series in C-Drama history. Therefore, I went into this drama with somewhat high expectations. Not only did these get easily surpassed, but Nirvana in Fire also became my favourite series I ever watched. In fact, the story is so masterfully crafted that it transcends its C-Drama bubble and I could comfortably recommend it to everyone.
Although the series starts of with the first episode being quite confusing due to the many things introduced at once, the story does not remain that difficult and is, in general, quite easy to understand. Should you get confused at some point, helpful and entertaining blogs such as "the fangirl verdict" are here to help you out. Overall, you quickly start to grow accustomed to and love the excellently written characters. Regarding whom my favourite character is, I really struggle to choose between the many great ones.
To name a few: Mei Changsu, the main character, stands out the most as the genius strategist with a tragic backstory and a secret identity, who is looking for revenge, by any means possible. Prince Jing, a highly idealistic, righteous individual, who wants to seek justice. His mum, Consort Jing, a very comforting, but also very smart woman. And there are many more…
On top of that, the relationships between these characters really enhance the plot. For example, Mei Changsu and Prince Jing have more chemistry in their bromance than some BLs out there. Every time, the prince came close to discovering Mei Changsu's real identity, it had me sitting at the edge of my seat.
Whereas other dramas would resort to long-winded backstory-segments, "Nirvana in Fire" manages to convey the past relationships of the characters through excellent acting and great dialogues, which make you fill in the blanks yourself by showing the impact of their shared past instead of outright telling us.
Beyond that, it's extremely impressive that the pacing is very consistent and doesn't linger too long at any points. As a result, I excitedly looked forward to every single episode and was never disappointed.
Furthermore this series was quite addictive due to the relatively short story arcs dealing one by one with the various smaller conflicts within the larger narrative. Each obstacle and enemy gets absolutely obliterated, which is a very satisfying outcome to see. Besides that, it's very entertaining to see Mei Changsu's genius plans come to fruition, which often have an unexpected twist and sometimes not really work out the way you would expect.
All in all, the series managed to hold my attention through all 54 episodes. This was quite surprising to me, as I usually prefer and am used to much shorter shows.
However, I had some mixed feelings toward the ending. Even though it was quite satisfying in the sense that all questions were answered, all important conflicts resolved, and it made sense, I wished that they had done it a little differently (can't say how exactly due to this review being spoiler-free). Overall this doesn't sway my very positive opinion, but with such a near-perfect show, I needed to point that out.
In conclusion, the story is one of the greatest ever told in the history of humankind and everyone should watch it at least once.
ACTING - 10/10
The acting in this is the best I've ever seen in an Asian drama. All the actors, but expecially Hu Ge, who is Mei Changsu, convey nuanced emotions and inner conflict expertly. This series wouldn't be the same without this amazing cast. It's truly rare that the actors add so much value to a series.
MUSIC - 10/10
I love the OST. In fact, I was even listening to the opening on loop for a while. It is very epic and gorgeous. Other than that it always perfectly accentuated what was happening in the show.
REWATCH VALUE - 10/10
I will certainly rewatch his many times. Despite the fact that I just finished watching it a couple of months ago, I already feel the urge to start a rewatch. I'm positive that I would enjoy it just as much as my first watch.
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