Extraordinary" divine" talent AKA master strategist
This drama has been on my plan to watch for the longest time mainly because I love the dramas I watch to have romance even if its not just a little and I heard there was no romance so I was hesitant to start .I also heard its tragedy and I always avoid those type of dramas because life is already sad enough ,but I finally decided to make an exception and just start it and see what happens but now I am very glad to have made the right decision.THINGS I loved
Script;Whoever wrote these script is so brilliant and talented.it was such an intelligent, entertaining and intimate plot that made sure you made attention to the details and it made you use several storyline which were tightly interwoven and did a good job explaining and taking care of loose ends.Flawless dialogue and delievery.
Acting; The acting of cast was amazing, there was no weak link, they all collective did an amazing job to bring to life these characters, they were so believable that I found myself completely emerged into the story.Everyone played their part well even villains, they were well matched.
Characters; I loved most of these characters,their sincerity, loyalty and uniqueness.But the characters that I loved more were:
Meng changsu(AKA Lin she); So Briliant,i fell in love with his character and his mind and his unbreakable will.this is the most intelligent male lead character I have ever had the pleasure of watching.i love how his character stayed consistently smart till the end and they didn't try to dumb him down just for misunderstanding and conflicts to drive the drama along(like we have seen in various dramas).he suffered unspeakable torture and betrayal but he did not let it break him.He plotted, persevered until his ultimate goal was achieved.i only wished by some magic that he got to finally enjoy his after many years of suffering but alas*tears*I knew right from the beginning so I mentally prepared my mind but I still not ready*more tears*
Consort jing; This was the smartest female character to me.she was so smart yet quiet, tolerant yet strategic, she always found a way to say the rights words at the right time and be so calm and settling.she did a lot of behind the scenes work that might not look like much but had a lot of impact.She was the voice of reason to the emperor.she was wise and simply amazing.
Fei lui; this was such an adorable character, any time he came onscreen I couldn't had but smile.i loved his quirks, responses and his childlike actions.Even when he beating up people ,you couldn't help but find him so cute.(its clear that I am very unashamedly biased to him).
Special shouts out to Prince Jing, very rash and sometimes unable to control his emotions but you can doubt his sincerity and loyalty and because this you can tell his going to make a good emperor(at least better than all the options presented)some one said he is the female main lead in this drama, funny but I absolutely agree.the prince who the emperor neglected and overlooked because
Commander Meng; loved him too.such a bubbly, supportive ,caring and honest friend.So loyal to the core and excellent commander.
Princess Nihaug; she is a badass character as well unfortunately she wasn't shown in enough episodes.But from what we saw she is brave, loving and strong.She would been such wonderful partner to Lin she.
Emperor:You always have emperors like this ,hardly seen any emperor I have actually liked in a Chinese drama .He was terrible, incompetent and biased to his children,I can't really say if he was the just evil or simply overly suspicious and jealous of people better than him or just an emperor that knew the evil deeds he did to us and was scared of it coming back to hunt him and it eventually did.he played his role so well and sometimes I found his throwing things when mad funny.How can the emperor know his children when he has so many concubines and children and is only concerned about being the emperor(yes I hate harem things and I know thats how things were then but it was still distasteful.
Lin chen;loyal ,funny friend
Xie yu and Xia jung were really smart villains and I am glad they got that deserved end.
There were so many loyal characters in these drama, that it was so heart warming to watch and the friendships were so beautiful.
Honestly if you are still having doubts about this drama, I am here to tell you that this drama is not overhyped, it deserved any praise and accolades given to it because it is simply outstanding, its a tough drama to beat in terms strong plot line and execution. this drama has flawless writing and dialogues.the scenes progressed smoothly and every backstory was adequately explained that I didn't have to suspend logic and reality like some other dramas.Watch this drama because they actually treated the audience as intelligent people and there was barely any unnecessary scenes but I must warn you it is really sad at the end I cried but it was full circle moment for Lin shu. Even though I know that can't help feeling sad about the main lead but I understand this is the end he wanted for himself.BUT still I blame the writers that wrote such a sad end, notwithstanding that this drama is one of a kind, bittersweet but beautiful and you should definitely give it a go.
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1The Poetic Genius
The origin of Nirvana in Fire is the book "Lang Ya Bang" by Hai Yan.The author is also the scriptwriter, which is one of the reasons why the script is so thorough and in the vein of the novel.
Nirvana In Fire is a fictional story with the historical background of the North and South Dynasty period. It uses the massacre of 70,000 soldiers ordered by Emperor Xiaoxuan Liang as the basis for the story. From this massacre, General Lin Shu survives and for 12 years he refines a strategy to re-establish the truth about the reasons for the massacre.
A strategy planned from every angle. Anticipated for any unforeseen event, even if, as Mei Chang Su, the name with which he came back from the dead, says himself, no strategy is infallible.
The plot is superbly orchestrated, we are dealing with a clever character who has created a spider's web to draw each victim into.
More than a chess game, Nirvana in Fire is a hunt brilliantly led by Mei Chang Su. Manipulation from A to Z mastered with a genius rarely achieved. It may seem boring to think, well we know he's going to be the winner and who the bad guys are. But no, the beauty of this drama lies in its simplicity, we already know the endgame and yet we watch in wonder as the villains get caught up in the spider's web little by little because it's the path to get there that is captivating. Everything in this drama is finely tuned, the outcome of each attack is skilfully revealed, neither too fast nor too slow. We know the why but not the how because it's not so easy to guess in advance what's going through Mei Chang Su's head.
I have never seen a character as charismatic, relentless and formidable as Mei Chang Su. An intelligence in the service of good that marries wonderfully with his goodness and his purity of heart. He is the definition of the hero, the one who goes to the end of his mission in spite of a body that fails him, in spite of the adversaries to be put down and allies to be sacrificed.
Beyond the political strategy, Nirvana in Fire is also about LOYALTY, the LOYALTY that the fellow pugilists have towards Mei Chang Su, the LOYALTY that Prince Jing has towards Lin Shu even beyond death.
I loved the intense friendship between Mei Chang Su and Prince Jing, which started out suspicious and became solid long before the Prince discovered the truth.
If the ending isn't a surprise, I don't regret this incredible journey. The strength of this drama lies in the relational chemistry between each character from the most important to the minor role.
If I have only one drama to recommend, even if you don't like political conspiracies, even if you don't like historical dramas, even if you have preconceived ideas about Chinese dramas, I would say, this one is worth seeing over and over again.
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Spectacular! Nirvana in Fire has set the new bar for drama series!
As a good [limited] movie and drama series fan, I find myself fond of quality of story, plot-line, casting & acting, and of course all supporting elements for the quality such as the production detail such as costumes, music, culture, exterior/interior design., etc.Nirvana in Fire is a very rare gem I found years after it first airing in 2015.
A story about classic politic intrigue & battle of wits with minor touch of action, all blended with a superb directing.
What makes the story very attractive is 'mission of the mission' presented in well-balanced pace by the main character played superbly by Hu Ge and perfected by all supporting actors/actresses. Yes! I wrote all actors/actresses, they are just brilliant and really animated their roles.
In watching drama series, sometimes I could skip a few episodes or even a season (of many) due to the dragging story or the plot suddenly seems irrelevant, lost the way or the twist was just 'too twisted' which makes the early 'nice flavor' become sour or tasteless. Nirvana in Fire is way beyond those substandard series. In Nirvana in Fire, almost each episode treat us with something new and interesting surprises plot. There is no unnecessary scene, no teenager puppy-love and no unnecessary acting. No nonsense!
All aspects of the movie, even just a minor supplement touch scene really suited and enriched the story, really smooth. The pace is excellent, make me really enjoyed, immersed & excited by this phenomenal drama series.
Last but not least, the soundtrack really represents the soul of the story. It is about everything one's might face and endure in this mortal world of suffering and beauty.
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One of the greatest shows of all time
I almost didn't watch this show because of a few things.1. Dub. Yes, the whole show is dubbed by the original or other actors. I understand it's because the language is very rich, intricate, and subtle that everything needs to be clear, but at first it almost made me turn it off. I got used to it.
2. First few minutes I thought the setting was going to be in regional and mountain areas but 90% of the show takes place in the capital city of the empire.
3. The exaggerated martial arts. It's actually pretty nice and fun to watch but can take a while to get used to.
4. This is my first Chinese series. It had so many names and locations that at first was hard to keep up with but eventually it was easy.
Now that I got that out of the way:
The show's story is what sets it apart. Layers upon layers and very beautiful setups that make the show work. There's really not much more I can say without giving it away but if you want a nice story with a great plot, this is the show.
The actors and cast. Everyone was excellent and really complemented each other. They'll grow on you.
Overall, I loved the show and although it was 54 episodes, it didn't feel like it dragged on or felt too long or too short. It was just the right amount.
If you have doubts about watching, like I mentioned above, just watch a few more episodes. You'll see how good this show can be.
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It's the best Chinese Drama that I watched
If you watch barely any Chinese dramas but want to try one, then don't wait for more. This drama would always remain at the top of your list & it is not an exaggeration. It is one of those dramas that you always plan to watch but push it back (due to the length) & when you finally sit down to watch, you are left spell bound.It has all the elements that a viewer wishes to see : An intricately woven story, well written dialogues, spot on acting, beautiful cinematography, lovely landscapes, great themes like loyalty, justice & selfless love.
The drama pulls you effortlessly into itself. All the characters seem real, have their own motivations, values and back stories which are wonderfully executed. I was emotionally invested into more than one character & found myself celebrating, crying for a fictional character after a long time.
There is romance, bromance, mother & child love, friendship, sibling rivalry, political rivalry, the tension in a father & son relationship, and many other aspects of human relationships which are portrayed by the actors with a rich palette of emotions.
The drama has a good pace and flow without any fillers & the ending is near perfect with even the smallest of the nuances tied up brilliantly. Each scene, setting and character costume is breath takingly good.
The chess game between the two sides is interesting to watch & is unfolded layer by layer almost like a blossoming flower. This master piece cannot be justified with mere words. It can only be experienced.
This drama is definitely worth all the hype.
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This review may contain spoilers
Maybe considered spoiler, so anyone who don't even want to know a single hint about this drama, don't look any further.After I finished this drama, what I like about it is there are no scenes that make me feel heart-wrenching anger (bad kind) or agonizing pain (also bad-kind) [that is if you exclude the main reason of the whole drama]. You can just enjoy how he strategized so brilliantly and completely, letting you feel the anxiety of whether his plotting will succeed or not. My curiosity of how he turn the whole situation around is satisfied too.
I like Fei Liu (simple, good-at-fighting kid beside Mei Chang Su), his scenes are so cute and funny!
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the best dramas I've watched. This drama has a lot of complicated political intrigue and beautiful cinematography, and, importantly, a lot of very smart characters, including plenty of smart women. There was some romance but it paled in comparison to the wonderful heartfelt bromances. And, unlike most Korean dramas, everything wasn’t neatly tied up into one big happy pill, which made Nirvana’s ending much more meaningful and satisfying. I nearly gave up after the first episode because it was confusing with too many characters being introduced too quickly and too briefly (hint: learn their names!) but I’m glad I stuck with it. I would recommend this drama to people who like complex plots and who like to watch smart people behaving intelligently. Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
An epitome of perfection and a class of its own
This series surpassed all levels of hits there could be for a drama to score. In all my years of watching dramas, I can confidently say even until 2021 (I've watched countless J-series, K-series, Thai series and English series), not a single drama manages to even come close to this one in terms of plot, flow, character dynamics, cinematography and pacing. Brilliantly written and spun like an intricate web. The layers are astonishing. The plot is just mindblowing and NOT CLICHE. If you think you watched enough dramas to know or expect what the characters will do next, this series will throw you off the cliffs. Everytime you think the plot is going a certain way the characters always manages to surprise you or end up 10 light years ahead to wave and laugh at you. Even upon rewatching for the 6th time, I'm amazed at all the little details I manage to find each time. I was so sad when I watched this series for the first time in 2016. Near the end I had withdrawals and knew then that when this one ends, never will i find such a brilliant series again. NEVER. This one set the bar too high for me now. Simply because each characters here were written with such detail and care. There are none who exist simply to push the plots. Each of them fit and mould well in the mixture. Every one of them exist to represent a thought, a seed and they all have intentions or reasons as to why they do things. Even the character I hated most, the emperor - (who in his ego and ignorance chose to be blind to all evidences and essence of the truth) manages to make me find empathy and sympathy for him because of the way his character expressed his thoughts when he last spoke to Mei Chang Su. There are no good or evil in this series. There are only the truest and realest intentions, desires and sufferings humans ultimately choose for themselves or others on their paths. So this really is a win. It's been years and I came back to write this review simply because I haven't found a single drama which can be up to par with NiF and every time i feel that my standards sort of dropped or I watched too many 'disappointing' series, I come back to NiF for a rinse.Was this review helpful to you?
Easily the most intricate drama ever
I'm not sure where to start because I've watched this immediately after it was airedIt took me a while before I actually absorbed every detail and every character. And it was so difficult. I need to keep tabs of their names, and search every now and then about the characterization, very very carefully because I don't want to be spoiled. It was a chore.
But believe me, once I digested everything, it made perfect sense. Every decision. Every feeling. Every character started becoming so palpable and suddenly, I was already in the world. I realized that finally, after obsessing over Bu Bu Jing Xi, I finally found something that will caress my heart, and back then, it has also invaded my mind.
The goosebumps I got in this story can't be counted. Hu Ge was spectacular. And this is the drama that made me fall in love with Wang Kai.
I couldn't find any more words to say but this is a very intelligent drama. But with a heart.
I just put a little less on the rewatchability because even though I've rewatched this a few times, it's very painful that I don't come back immediately for more. But still, I know I will rewatch again. Some time in the future.
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Series that deserves its reputation TOP 10 History
Great epic series about power struggles, with a suspicious emperor, who kills his own sons.PLOT: The emperor ordered the killing of Prince Qi (one of his sons) suspected of mounting a rebellion, as well as his 70,000 soldiers. Only Ling Shu, the nevew, survived, seriously injured. He returns 13 years later, as an advisor/strategist, ill and having changed his appearance, determined to clear the prince Qi's name. To do this, he must put the only non-“rotten” Prince, Xiao Jing Yan, in power.
=> House of cards.
+++ A great cast, with great actors. They make us experience this story intensely. Well done !!
+++ The production is without length, well done, with the right balance of brotherhood, shenanigans/mind games, emotions and action, a little touch of humor to lighten the hard times.
+++ The story is realistic, coherent, credible.
+++ The sets, the costumes, the landscapes, ... are superb.
+++ The OSTs are well suited. They are not memorable, but amplify the emotions of each scene.
=> It's rare that I immerse myself in a pure historical drama, without any romance, with so much passion!! I will definitely rewatch this cult series in some time.
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Série qui mérite sa réputation TOP 10 Historique
Grande épopée sur les luttes de pouvoir, avec un empereur soupçonneux, qui tue ses propres fils.
PLOT : L'empereur a ordonné la mise à mort du Prince Qi (un de ses fils) soupçonné de monter une rébellion, ainsi que ses 70000 soldats. Seul Ling Shu, le petit-fils, a survécu, gravement blessé. Il revient 13 ans + tard, comme conseiller / stratège, malade et ayant changé d'apparence, bien décidé à laver le nom de son père. Pour cela, il doit faire mettre au pouvoir le seul Prince non "pourri" Xiao Jing Yan.
=> House of cards.
+++ Un cast d'enfer, avec de super acteurs. Ils nous font vivre cette histoire intensément. Bravo !!
+++ La réalisation est sans longueur, bien menée, avec le juste équilibre de bromance/fraternité, manigances/jeux d'esprit, émotions et action, une petite touche d'humour pour alléger les moments durs.
+++ L'histoire est réaliste, cohérente, crédible.
+++ Les décors, les costumes, les paysages, ... sont superbes.
+++ Les OST sont bien adaptés. Elles ne sont pas mémorables, mais amplifient les émotions de chaque scène.
=> C'est rare que je me plonge dans un pur drama historique, sans romance, avec autant de passion !! Je reverrai certainement cette série culte dans quelque temps.
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Starts absolutely confusing, yet ends absolutely riveting
This is the first Chinese drama that I've ever watched, so I am really new to everything about their storytelling style. Yet, after watching the last episode, I was just left to ask: "What took me so long to watch it?"A really common comment about this show is on how really confusing it is during the first 5 episodes. It was very confusing in that I had to search for a "relationship tree" picture between the characters to get the context. Furthermore, the story at that point can be understood, but for the most part, I was just clueless about what was happening, who's who, and why is that happening.
However, what made me start to invest here is that it isn't shy in focusing more on the main story (which is in contrast with Korean dramas that adds subplots to further add the story). The pacing here was neither fast nor slow burn. It really took its time in developing the events surrounding the main character, and then wraps up with heavy impact. Also, it did not relied on plot twists and deus ex machina, which made it more realistic in terms of the characters' decision-making. It was just refreshing to me as a viewer to see letting the story flow on its own organically.
One would think that this show's 54-episode run can be a turn off especially when there is only one main story. The erratic cliffhangers were just enough to really make my scratch my head, wanting for more episodes. KDramas and its dramatic cliffhangers just cannot compete here.
Speaking of the story, I absolutely loved how great it is. Once I was able to grasp the details around it, I was frequently reminded of "Game of Thrones" and was just in awe in terms of the parallelism and the context similarities of the two. Both are equally great in giving tension, drama, and royal politics, but this show in particular, was in top notch in portraying royal politics well. It wasn't too complex, yet it also wasn't too cliché. It still gave room for the watcher like me to think profoundly about their actions, and still enjoy its entertainment value at the same time. Also, the action and martial arts was just top notch, and the fighting skills are just chef's kiss.
The ending was what I expected it to be, but I would have appreciated it more had it followed the Korean 1-hour episode format. I found it to be too condensed though it was able to answer the questions and close the story pretty well.
Given all the praises, why would I not rate this drama a 10? Well, here comes a disadvantage when watching a show focused on a single major story - it tends to become redundant. There were quite many flashback scenes (particularly of the Chiyan army 13 years prior the story setting), and at a point, I was already tired seeing it. The scheming of plans also tended to move slow, despite the brilliant outcomes. It was more emphasis on talk, therefore more screentime and less on the action. But when the action scenes came, I wasn't able to think anything but be speechless.
Since this is the first time I am watching a Chinese drama, I don't have any idea how to perceive this show in the grand scheme of things. Nevertheless, I will set this show as the standard for my future Cdrama endeavors. Can't wait to watch more shows like Nirvana in Fire that starts absolutely confusing, yet ends absolutely riveting.
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Hu Ge, with his chiseled good looks, is the undisputed Su Zhe. I always think his face is far too thin and his shoulders too narrow, but this makes him physically perfect to play the sickly Su Zhe. He has a naturally melancholy face and a haunted look that’s almost eerie, fitting for a man coming back from the dead. The best part of his acting is his body language. You can see the subtle differences in his posture when he is calculating and determined, compared to when he feels hurt and tortured. His is a carefully crafted and deliberate performance. Credit to the director for taking advantage of Hu Ge’s strength as an actor.
Wang Kai, with his chiseled good looks, is the undisputed Prince Jing. This man is hotheaded, impulsive, and inflexible at times. He will stand by what is right even if it kills him (and possibly his followers, too). The good thing about him is that he's fully aware of his own faults and willing to shoulder the consequences of his actions. Unlike the stoic Su Zhe, the prince wears his heart on his sleeve, which is why Wang Kai is ideal for the role. Other than looking ultra-masculine, he has very expressive eyes that hint to all sorts of emotions boiling beneath the surface. In real life, a man with such a pure heart will find it near impossible to make it far in politics. But if Prince Jing ever make it to the top, you know he will make the world a better place.
Su Zhe and Prince Jing do make a great team, with one serving as the brain and the other the heart of the operation. They are each other’s foil, each making up for the qualities that the other person lacks. Their friendship and their struggle give us hope that we can change the world without sacrificing our integrity and the very things that make us human. Hu and Wang is one of the greatest onscreen duo ever. Every scene with the two of them is worth watching and rewatching.
Also worth rewatching are scenes where the men engaged in a battle of wits and will: Su Zhe vs. Xia Yu, Su Zhe vs. Xia Jiang, Xia Jiang vs. Yan Que, Su Zhe vs. Emperor, Prince Jing vs. Emperor. These scenes are a thousand times more suspenseful than the bloody battle sequences. They lead you to question what kind of life is worth living, and what kind of things are worth fighting and dying for.
Romance is never the focus here. Prince Jing’s wife is barely a blip and Su Zhe’s relationship with Princess Ni Huang is sidelined for most of the series. Liu Tao really shines as Ni Huang in the last few episodes. I never knew she has such a beautiful singing voice.
The first 20-plus episodes are draggy, to the point that I almost quit watching. There is an excessive use of deus ex machina. Minor characters that you really don’t care about pop in and out of the story. A lot of time is wasted on watching people bow to each other and walk around. I get the need to properly set up the story and characters, but this is just an inefficient use of screentime.
The direction is weirdly inconsistent. It feels like there’s two different directors at work here. The acting can be “pose-y” and a little unnatural in some scenes. Sometimes the actors just stand around like mannequins on display. Maybe it’s a stylistic choice, but it’s not one that I personally like.
Despite the flaws, this series will always be a classic to me.
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