1Negative correlation between Prince Jing’s looks and the number of his working brain cells.
It took me 3 attempts and “harassment” from a friend for me to finish it. I said it once, I will say it again - this drama could be a podcast. I don’t quite vibe with the tell not show style of directing I’ve got here. I did not really watch the majority of the events unfold, I watched characters talk to each other about said events. While I did get more invested closer to the end, it was not because of the clever shenanigans, but because of the entertaining clownery.While the journey of me watching it did not become enemies to lovers for me and NIF, enemies to partners in crime, calling out everyone for being dumb, for me and Su might have been a more fitting conclusion. I feel like I went through a whole ass character development and existential crises while watching this drama, since complaining about it was part of my mdl personality for the past 5 years.
Do I think it's a masterpiece? Hell fucking no. I still think it's a podcast dressed as a drama. It should have been around 10 episodes shorter. They should have shown more, talked less. I want to see shit happen, not people describe it to each other as they sit in their fancy homes sipping tea spiked with poison. I WANT TO SEE THE TEA HAPPEN!
Is Chang Su a master strategist whose IQ is higher than the combined IQ of all of humanity? Maybe in that universe, but it's not hard to be a genius when everyone around you has a negative number of brain cells in their head. And yet, strangely I think I’ll miss Chang Su, even though I found his well organized plan to be more of a quick reaction to whatever issues other people created and the conclusion to his character being shockingly ridiculous in presentation. This man mastered the art of judging other people’s stupidity and I aspire to get to that level at some point in my life.
The whole court power struggle and the “who’s gonna be the crown prince and future emperor” question was for me dumb for a simple reason - the country would be doomed whoever wins. Prince Yu in his fancy attire was too egocentric and prone to conspiracy thinking while also being way too naive to rule, and Jing Yan and Jing Xuan were, to put it simply, dumb and dumber.
Jing might have been hot, but also had a surprising level of brainlessness at times. He was not connecting any dots whatsoever. Clueless. I was waiting for him to march with clown makeup at some point. You want to give him the country to rule when he cannot even control his own emotions? More often than not he needed to chill, relax, drink some tea and touch some grass.
Personally, I believe Jing's mom should have become the ruler and no one was even close to being as qualified as she was. Patient, smart, observant, good at manipulating people around her for her goals, taking good care of her people, and loyal. None of the men got anything on her.
The biggest issue I had was the fact I just did not care about any of the characters, I didn't care about who would sit on the throne, who would survive, if they would get the revenge. I just do not care. The tiny underlying love line between Chang Su and Ni Huang I should care about because why? They went full on melodrama on their 3rd or 4th meeting, while I still knew nothing about their past - so why should I get emotionally invested? Add to that some unexpected moments like a cameo from Bigfoot or Fein Liu fighting against gravity and winning, and you truly have a whole clownery making the watch entertaining, but lacking emotional stakes.
All that said, I truly did enjoy watching the last 10-15 episodes. Things finally started happening, all the characters were fully established, I understood their motivations and I could enjoy them proceeding with whatever plans they had in mind. The tea was spilling and it was scorching hot. I accepted the flaws of all the characters, tuned my brain to the level of brain energy the drama presents and just went on the final ride with a smile on my face.
Overall, I am completely incapable of objectively judging this drama. Truth to be told, the 5 years journey I had with it makes me incapable of judging it even subjectively - I don’t REALLY know what I think about it and how I feel about it. I don’t think I’ll ever know. My opinion is painfully blurred by the fun interactions I had with users about me struggling so much. Watching these 54 episodes became literally a memorable long term project/event in my life, and for that I know I am grateful.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“I said you are simple. Do you really not use your brain?” - said by the Emperor. Reach of him to say that when he himself had maybe half of a brain cell working.
“You have loyalty and honor, but why do you not have a brain?” facts Su said to Jing and I’m questioning why he wants him as the future emperor.
“The reason you lost to me is because you are stupid”
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Not My Cup of Tea
I'm one of the few who is not in love with this drama. I was thinking to drop it around episode 21 or 22, but others on MDL said it picks up around episode 35. Well, the lie detector test determined that that was a lie. It was boring to the bitter end. It is a political drama filled with long, drawn-out dialogues and in some cases, very questionable logic. If you feel that you should drop it, do not doubt yourself because of what others say, listen to your gut and drop it. I am not mad that I watched it, but I should have followed my intuition and just read recaps.What I liked:
-Fei Lu- Yes, the boy who spoke the least and loved eating and fighting was my favorite. He was adorable and extremely loyal.
-The Emperor, Jing Rui, Yu Jin, Lin Chen, Prince Ji, Meng Zhi, and Gao Zhan- These characters added some comic relief to a very serious and boring drama.
What I didn't like:
-Mei Chang Su- Yes, I know everyone loves him, but I didn't care for him. He was very smart, but he had a sanctimonious air to him. I lost all interest in him after what he caused at Jing Rui's birthday party. He wanted his revenge but often didn't take into consideration the feelings of people he was using as stepping stones.
-The keeping his identity from Prince Jing storyline was annoying and drawn out for too long. Prince Jing didn't find out until episode 48 or 49. I also didn't like that when Prince Jing was very close to figuring it out, the ML, the princess, Prince Jing's mother, and General Meng would consistently lie to him and insult his intelligence by gaslighting him. I don't know how he was able to trust any of them after that. I don't care if it was for the greater good, these are not the actions of trustworthy people.
-This drama lacks an emotional connection. I could not connect with many of the characters, especially the ML. They tried to make us feel something between him and the princess, but we never really saw any romance between them. We know they love each other, but I couldn't feel anything for them. Everyone raves about the bromance, but it actually didn't do anything for me. In terms of bromance only, it doesn't compare to Cross Fire, Ouroboros, Handsome Sibling, or Inseparable Bros, in my opinion. The only times this drama elicited feelings from me was when Prince Yu was pleading with his father while he was in the cage after his rebellion (he acted really well in that scene) and Tong Lu's little love story.
My recommendation is if you want to watch it, then watch it; if you want to drop it, then drop it.
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In saying that, taking this drama at face value as an amazing small screen production, I would give it a 10/10.
Hu Ge as the titular character expresses and exceptional range of emotions and portrays his characters in wonderful detail. Every minute action adds to the storyline and makes his character all the more alive.
Watching this drama, you can see why Liu Tao, Wang Kai, Chen Long, Jin Dong and Hu Ge are so popular these days.
Mei Chang Su is an amazing blend of intellect, restraint and emotions that draws you in not for his amazing martial arts prowess but his considerable ability to remain calm in the face of any eventuality. He has a plan for a plan for a plan.
Some will say that Liu Tao is not strong enough as the female heroine, or that she spends too much time pining after her Lin Shu gege, but I say that she is just the right blend of longing and inner strength for a woman who knows not the fate of her love.
The one thing I would say that I dislike about this drama, is the amount of time Wang Kai spends crying. Based on his character, one would hope for a more resilient and emotionally strong individual (which he normally is unless you start to mention Lin Shu...which considering the drama is about Lin Shu...well...).
Definitely give this drama a go. It's one of the best that I've seen in a long time and the production value ensures that if you're not satisfied with the story, at least you'll be satisfied with it's visuals.
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The BRILLIANT cinematography and dramaturgy is breathtaking and really pulls you in. There is an atmosphere that is overwhelming and is still with me days after I finished this series. The emotions and feelings came across so well, with a lovely original sound track. There were moments in this drama that were so brilliant that I had to remember to breath. I felt so moved and invested by the end that I cried because I won’t ever get to watch this for the first time ever again.
The actors were fantastic and the directing was wonderful. These characters are not all easy to portrait but they came across so well. The whole ensemble worked very well together. The actors and director set a tone that was intriguing and appealing. How they moved and the mannerism they used were perfect and it was very satisfying to watch how it reflected the way royal court worked in the old days. The costumes are lovely and beautiful. The setting locations, the backdrops and the props were just magnificent!
The main story is very touching and not a straight up revenge story, but instead about fairness, truth and justice. I found that so appealing. Shades of grey of good versus evil. I was so invested in the friendship between the two main male leads, it was beautifully portrayed and involved elements like loyalty and trust. They were perfect together. As the story unfolded I rooted for them, cried with them and cheered them on.
One of the things that made me really interested in this story was the fact that our hero is very sick and weak. His power is not brute strength but his brilliant mind. For me this is the first of watching a drama where the main character is truly dying and very weak, at no time does he pull any superhero stunts. Except when his mind solved problems with impossible odds!
The romance is almost none existent in this drama. It is sweet but chaste and not at all any main focus. I actually quite enjoyed it being so on the low and not in the way for the more important events. You won’t be seeing the hero rescuing the princess from the castle, because she can take care of herself. I do actually think this drama is labelled wrong when the tag says romance.
The story pacing is excellent! The side stories spanned two or three episodes, often overlapping, and were all linked to the main story. The plotting and planning was exciting. I was worried going into this that I would not enjoy or be able to follow the politics, but it was more like watching the detective case of the week and before I knew it I suddenly knew all the characters and was perfectly following along how everything unfolded. Not getting it the first couple of episodes was not frustrating an everything was presented so naturally that I was never confused or frustrated. There was never really any effort.
I am having problems with coming up with downsides of this series. What did I not like, what were the mistakes. But I seriously can’t. It was like it was made for me.
My views on this is as a total beginner of this type of drama (Wuxia drama that is, though I am a fantasy lover and watch loads of Korean drama). I usually avoid fantasy with too much “flying” fighting, because it breaks my immersion, and go for the more realistic (haha…) fighting style productions. But before I watched this I stumbled upon a short description of the typical standard Wuxia world building and I suddenly understood that things did not work as they do in our “world”. As a nerd I filed some of the information away as totally legit and comparable to a D&D rule set.
Shallow as I am I also need to address the two male leads again and their "bromance". Hu Ge who is playing Mei Chang Su/Su Zhe took on a role I think is very difficult to portrait without coming across as fake. He is supposed to be very sick and that is easy to overdo. With just his body language and demeanor he made me feel his pain. There was no room for overacting. Still he was very sexy. Because a brilliant mind is something extremely attractive.
Wang Kai who plays Prince Jing played a more rough cut type of role. Even so when he broke into emotions it was heart achingly good. I could feel his sorrow and believed the emotions he displayed. Also, the very dark voice he has is something of the sexiest I have ever heard. I am just that shallow I guess. :)
These two together were amazing!
I loved this! I can’t recommend it enough.
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Gold Standard for C-Dramas
Its 2023, years since NIF has been out and I STILL have friends who have not watched despite hearing rave reviews. Please give this drama a chance. At first glance it might not have the pretty young faces of idol dramas but what it does have is a deep and intricate plot, good overall pacing and a stellar cast.Story - It might start a bit slow as it lays down the groundwork and setting for the story, but quickly gets more interesting after 6th or 7th episode after you get a feel for the context of the story. Its a battle of wits and smarts, righting old wrongs, enduring friendships, and betrayals by those you thought could be trusted. And its about an unfavored prince who, with the right advisor, grows the motivation to also fight for the throne with his brothers.
Acting/Cast - Wang Kai and Hu Ge were amazing as the main characters. Wang Kai as that unfavored prince who transformed in the story from someone resigned to being unfavored with no shot at the throne, to someone who is determined to fight for it for the sake of the people and for the sake of those wronged in the past. Hu Ge did great as that mastermind manipulator navigating all the political schemes like a chess grandmaster, while at times showing some regret/sorrow for who he needs to manipulate to accomplish his plan. I also loved the supporting cast, especially Liu Min Tao's character as Jing Yan's mother. There really was not a single character from the main leads to the minor characters that I was disappointed with. Even supporting characters who only showed up in a few episodes a small handful of times, I remember their backstory well and what their role was and was invested in what happened to them--even the supporting cast was memorable. I wish I could thank the entire cast and crew for creating this wonderful drama.
I've rewatched this drama a couple times already and while I don't usually enjoy stories with power scheming and the backstabbing/cunning of harem politics as much, I really loved this drama. As far as pacing and storytelling, fleshing out the characters, finding the right cast for the roles INCLUDING the supporting characters, I hold this drama up as the gold standard for other dramas to aim for.
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Best C-Drama of the 21st century
I watched this drama later than everyone else; 16 months after the original TV broadcast. I watched the entire drama in three weeks, staying up until 3AM, to watch episodes.Nirvana in Fire is a TV drama masterpiece, that was brilliantly written and produced. All the actors in the primary and supporting roles, gave exceptional acting performances. Hu Ge and Wang Kai were the perfect casting choices for the Mei Chang Su and Prince Jing Yan roles. The costume designs and the set designs were flawless, and the music soundtrack was perfect. The directing and editing were very good.
The intricate plot flowed like an English Literature textbook. Hai Yan's novel, "Lang Ya Bang", deserves recognition in the Asian and Western literary worlds, and the TV drama deserves honors in the Asian and Western entertainment industries. All TV production houses should use the Nirvana in Fire as the benchmark for their dramas.
This is the first TV drama that I awarded 10 points across the board.
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The standard by which I measure all other dramas
It's been 5 years since this drama came out, and still there is almost nothing that compares to the magic of NIF:- a focused, structured story that is well-paced, doesn't have any filler content, and also doesn't think of its audience as idiots
- strong, intelligent characters that are unique and lovable (or at least understandable), both male and female, with character arcs that go somewhere and feel earned
- natural, expressive acting where you feel the full personality and history of each character
- beautiful costumes, settings, and scenery as befitting a historical/costume drama
NIF has the clear elements of good narrative storytelling, which seems rare in dramas nowadays - setup, rising action (with each step a necessary piece of the plot and building up the tension), climax, and resolution. Most other dramas that I've seen fall into a trap of just having things that happen one after another, with nothing to link them together and no clear advancement or tie to the plot = it's less a story and more just a series of events.
The only criticism I might have of NIF is that I felt the resolution was a bit rushed, but otherwise this is the drama that I measure all others by, and the vast majority of them fall short.
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Sophisticated, intelligent and worth the effort
I’m not always in agreement with the ratings, but I think this one deserved its 9.1 (July 2025). It’s probably the best court intrigue I’ve seen and as it progressed it improved. The rough edges in the first episodes are generally smoothed out and a meandering plot delivers constant interest.In court intrigue dramas, with so much emphasis having to be given to moving the plot forward, the downside is that characters are often cyphers as there is no room for character development. But here, the imagination of the original writer is colourful enough to create a raft of interesting characters whose variety kept me interested and also helped me to distinguish between the cast of thousands. And time is taken out occasionally to allow for the exploration of the full impact of events on the main characters involved, giving them emotional depth and credibility.
The ML, Mei Chang Su (Hu Ge) is passive in every sense. Incapacitated by illness he sits like a spider at the centre of the web, spinning the events around him. We don’t see him actively finding information, but always passively receiving it. He is the eye of the storm and the original cause: all cyclones start by creating an eye. This quietness is reflected in the plot as well. Although there is plenty of action and gore, the predominant theme centred around moral action, justice and strength, so there is less emphasis on the superhero vibe and more attention on the unfolding of emotional layers in the characters.
The way that information is imparted is very clever. In a situation where every scene needs to move forward the complex plot lines, rather than repeating stuff in order to show the cascade of information, i.e. A tells B & C, then B tells D, and C tells E etc which is clumsy, repetitive and highly tedious. We see all those interactions happening concurrently in an interleaved way using short snippets of different scenes, with the information spread between the conversations. Beautifully efficient. Or we see a less obvious character deliver information and automatically assume the relevant main character knows it. The sophistication of the writing here is the thing that lifts this drama from tedious to fast paced and absorbing.
I love some of the fabrics used in the costumes. The textures and woven patterns of the clothes worn by the ML and lesser status bureaucrats are more beautiful in my mind than the elaborate silks of the court. The music too, is subtle and added to the period feel of the drama.. However the makeup is not good. Someone got slap happy with the orange and on too many occasions there was a Trump lookalike contest in which Nirvana in Fire came out the winner.
There are fantasy elements which did not convince, but they couldn’t really undermine what was done so well everywhere else. Look the fight scenes, what can I say? If you’re into that sort of thing then they’re probably spectacular, for me they provided a good laugh and some light relief. ‘Nuff said.
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Not even exaggerating, by the way.
1) The reason I watched this :
if you’ve poked on my dramalist, you would probably know that I watch Korean dramas almost exclusively. It’s partly habit, partly soft spot, and partly the excellent production values that kdramas tend to serve up. Coz I do like pretty things, as you very likely know.????
Still, I like to keep an open mind, and when something that’s not within my usual wheelhouse gets a lot of buzz, the curious cat in me can’t help but want to see for myself what the fuss is about.
That’s what happened here.
2) background and cinematography :
A LAND OF FAIRYTAIL, its a world in itself , a unique story plot fantasy world , full of twists and LOVE , the scenes itself , are original .. The production values of this show are so high that it often feels more gloriously cinematic than modestly small screen.
Everything is carefully, lovingly, beautifully shot, and it is a literal feast for the senses. From the amazing landscapes, to the loving camera angles and every meticulously-framed shot, to every deliberate, painstaking detail in set, costume and background music, everything is precisely, just-so perfect.
*The cinematography is great , which is one of the strong points of this drama
3) Acting
Our principal cast does a tremendous job of bringing their characters to life, and even the baddies are excellently and believably portrayed. Layered and nuanced from the big moments to the quiet, subtle ones, every major character is delivered with an admirable level of mastery and commitment.
10/10.
4) The writing
Its all about the writing ... this show wouldn't have been a success without the great mind of the writer,As excellent as the production values and acting are, the writing is truly the star of this entire show. Mad, mad props to Hai Yan, who not only wrote the original novel, but also penned the script for this show.
ONE WORD " General brilliance "
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
Its like I lived in the world of FANTASY and dreams for a short period of time :)
*Is the drama memorable: YES
My impression: 9/10.
6) Overall: 9/10
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The ONE Chinese Drama, Everybody should watch! Instant classic! Masterpiece!
This is MY FAVOURITE ASIAN DRAMA SO FAR!This is one of the Best Chinese Dramas ever produced. A MASTERPIECE!!
Nirvana in Fire is not just a drama. It is an experience, a breathtaking journey of loyalty, strategy, friendship, sacrifice, and the quiet strength of the human spirit. A story about revealing the truth. About Revenge, yet it's much more than that. From the very first episode, it becomes clear: this is a show made with rare precision, artistry, and respect for its audience.
Even without revealing a single plot detail, it’s safe to say this drama delivers a narrative that is intelligent, gripping, and emotionally overwhelming in the best possible way. The writing is masterful—layered, poetic, and meticulously planned. Every scene, every line, every encounter holds meaning. Nothing is wasted.
It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after the final episode ends.
The Main Male Lead is one of the smartest written characters ever. Hu Ge’s portrayal is nothing short of legendary—subtle, powerful, and unforgettable. His performance alone could carry an entire series, yet Nirvana in Fire surrounds him with an ensemble cast so exceptional that not a single character feels shallow or forgettable.
It's about a quest to make things right. (Justice). That is the goal of the main Character, Mei Chang Su.
The relationships—whether between friends, allies, or rivals—are portrayed with astonishing depth. You feel their warmth, their tension, their loyalty, their pain.
This story brought me to tears, tears were shed for the romance moments,
the bromance between Mei Chang Su and Prince Jing. I Even shed tears for Prince Yu and Emperor.
Everything in this drama feels grand yet intimate.
The cinematography is stunning without ever being flashy.
The costumes and sets are historically rich and visually magnificent.
I loved all these characters, like they were real!
The Characters were very much alive, and they had reasons for their actions good and bad.
Unlike many political or historical dramas, Nirvana in Fire never talks down to the viewer. Its brilliance lies in its intelligence: plans within plans, alliances formed with meaning, conflicts born from genuine human motivations, with a lot of depth.
Yet it remains clear, compelling, and utterly addictive. You don’t just watch the story unfold—you feel like you're part of it.
The Martial arts scenes was amazing too. They were shot well and it’s safe to say this drama delivers some of the most exquisite, thoughtfully crafted, and meaningful action sequences in the entire genre.
Each action scene is anchored in strategy, emotion, and character, making the impact far deeper than just physical clashes.
Even the quietest confrontations feel intense because they carry weight.
The choreography in this drama is nothing short of art.
Movements are clean, controlled, and beautifully executed—never chaotic, never sloppy. The fights rely on skill, discipline, and realism, showing martial arts in a way that feels both authentic and cinematic.
All the Actors were truly amazing and really did a great job.
Especially Hugh Hu, Tamia Liu, Wank Kai, Victor Huang, Ding Yong Dai and Leo Wu.
The music—oh, the music—is emotionally haunting and perfectly placed, The music was amazing in this show!
I loved the main instrumental theme.
A theme that perfectly fits this Drama, elevating every significant moment to something unforgettable.
I have already watched this again. So definitely want to rewatch this one in the future.
This is a story that touches the heart with quiet power. It makes you reflect on honor, loyalty, justice, and the weight of the past. It leaves you with scenes and characters you will never forget.
It is rare for a drama to be this complete—emotionally, narratively, artistically.
Nirvana in Fire is the definition of a masterpiece.
It is the kind of show that reminds you why you watch dramas at all.
Beautiful, intelligent, emotional, unforgettable—nothing else compares.
This just shows, how incredible Chinese Dramas can Be!
If you want to watch the best Chinese drama ever made… this is the one.
AND STILL THE GREATEST CHINESE DRAMA EVER, In my eyes!
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Just WOW - the hype is real
I'm quite late to the bandwagon, but am so glad that I gave this masterpiece a chance! I've watched many dramas over the years and I have to say this is probably one of the most well written dramas I've seen. The acting and storyline are amazing! I'm very pleased with the cast because they really brought the characters to life.Mei Chang Su is the most beautiful tragic hero, and is a someone who I could not stop admiring episode after episode. His wit and intelligence never failed to amaze me. Despite the mental, physical and emotional pains he had to endure, he is blessed to have loyal and loving friends and comrades. The highlight of this drama is definitely the relationship between Mei Chang Su and the rest of the main characters. The BROMANCE is real yall. I love his bond with Fei Liu, Meng Zhi, Jingyan, Li Chen, etc. There is a bit of romance, but that was not the focal point of the drama (which I very much appreciated). Honestly, the story would have done well even if they decided to forego the romance.
I will say that this drama will require time and patience to watch because it is a slow burn with lots of details, so your full attention is required to really appreciate the story. The rewatch value would be high because I'm sure I missed a few details the first time watching. My only complaint was the way the last episode played out, as there were some things I would have changed (e.g. the filler scenes). Otherwise, I really enjoyed it.
Nirvana in Fire will definitely go down in history as a classic. Thank you to the writer, cast and crew for such a beautiful series.
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