Editorials 
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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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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This review may contain spoilers
ONE WORD: MAGNIFICENT.
To summarize my experience of watching this drama, I have never skip even a second for the entire series (mind you I am a skipper while watching drama)STORY:
The plot is pure brilliant! I have never watched such well written and thought out political "history" drama such as NIF. Every single part matters, no wasted screen time at all. Every moment as I continue to watch it, it kept me surprised and intrigued. The character is written very well, no 'dumb' characters at all, every characters serve its purpose for the plot and also as real as it gets.
ACTING:
Hu Ge and Wang Kai blew me away. What a magnificent potrayal of the characters. When you watch it, there are no Hu Ge and Wang Kai in the characters, it is purely Mei Chang Su and Jing Yan 100%. Other actor and actress also perform a very good job for their characters. They made it believable and real.
MUSIC:
I do not have any issues with the music or the background music or sound. I like it all.
REWATCH VALUE:
i have watch it for more than 3 times and I did not skip a single thing. This should explain the rewatch value.
OVERALL:
I may not write a long review for this due to one simply can't express how great it is unless you watch it. However, I can confidently say that this is the best Chinese Drama (#1) ever made up until this moment. If you have not watch NIF, you can't say you are a C-Drama lover.
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Epic Period Drama
Yeah, I understand now why this is an epic drama, by the end of if I was so involved with the story and all the characters. Good end as well, bittersweet, as expected of Chinese dramas.The production did a good job, very well-made.
The actors are wonderful, they really capture the emotions. What was different for me is the age/looks of the actors, usually they look younger in recent dramas, but this is not a complaint, I liked the more realist aspect of it.
I do have to say that some plots should be better explored, like the poison thing and his relationship with the jianghu world. Also, there are some plots that made me mad that he didn't see it coming, were you not the good one?
Well, do watch it, it's worth your time.
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This review may contain spoilers
May the noble legacy and selfless sacrifice of Lin Shu and Mei Changsu live on forever
This show has been the top of my list since I watched it the first time. There were many times when I cried for all the injustices that the Chiyun army suffered and the House of Prince Qi. For all the suffering Lin Shu has endured so he could clear his family's name of the crime they have never committed. For Nihuang, who painstakingly waited for her Lin Shu gege to come back, only to be separated in the end. Life was never fair. But it was particularly cruel for Lin Shu.Lin Shu is a character I truly admire. After the massacre of his family, he didn't vow for vengeance and didn't cruelly kill everyone involved. Instead, he traded his life, his chance to be with the people he loved and instead be the sly, cunning, and shrewd Mei Changsu. For 13 years, he planned his strategy and eventually he succeeded. The journey though was never easy. And when we thought that he can finally leave in peace, war happened. Instead of spending his limited time with the love of his life, he went to battle to protect the people and his country. This was his ultimate sacrifice so that the people he loved would have peace. Jingyan knows this, more so Nihuang. For Lin Shu and Nihuang, their separation on that hill was poignant and full of hope. Not because they knew they will meet again, but instead they knew this could be the last time they will see each other. And for them, that was okay. Duty to their country comes above all else.
I truly hope that in their next lives, they were born as ordinary families, spending their life until old age. Or, they could have just been reincarnated as Xiao Pingjing and Lin Xi.
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1Perfection
This is one of only two dramas I've seen that made me feel unworthy of its greatness (the other being Stranger). That I needed to work to deserve watching it, which manifested in the form of my full rapt attention. Everyone is a mastermind, or, at least, close to a mastermind. Each main and side character is fully utilized, with not one person being forgotten or failing to play a key role at some point. The FLs aren't reduced to stereotypes, plot devices, or trophies to be won; they are portrayed as equals who are mentally strong and can fight as well as anyone. The bromance is a slow-burn epic. The dialogue is so well-written that I would not be surprised to know each scene was rewritten ten times so as to produce perfection, plant the seeds of things to come, and fill any plot hole the viewer could conceive of with their eager but small mind. This leads me to the point that I would be falling short of my duties as a reviewer not to stress: the incredible intelligence of not only the drama but each character and plot point. It is impossible not to root for everyone, if only briefly. The antagonists, protagonists, and morally grey characters are not minds you would dare imagine battling and are helpless but to admire. They point out flaws in their plans, consider each possibility with all the knowledge at their disposal, tactfully make allies, carefully plan not only their main and strongest course of action but multiple backup plans, and plot and plot some more.Nirvana in Fire is truly one of a kind. I can safely say it is the best C-Drama I have seen (and, for now, the 10th best piece of Asian media I have seen. Yes, it has skyrocketed to 10th place on my Absolute Perfection list).
NIF can keep you in the dark without upsetting you or being nonsensical. It doesn't try to be something it's not or pull you in different directions, nor does it lay all the cards on the table for the viewer resulting in its characters appearing foolish and unable to see the bigger picture. From the start, there is a hint of a goal that slowly becomes revealed and then worked toward in the light, with added revelations and events only solidifying it and enriching and adding more scope. The viewer only needs the patience required to allow it to unfold as it will, attempt to guess what may happen if you can, but simply: give it the attention and respect it deserves.
By the end of watching this, you feel as though a massive weight has fallen from your shoulders. And it is a relief but also terrifying to feel so unburdened.
I cannot recommend this drama to you enough. I thank my lucky stars it was recommended to ME. Yes, it is 54 episodes, each averaging 45 minutes. But I promise you, it is worth it. The only valid question to answer is if you are a dialogue junkie. Because if not, this is most definitely not the drama for you.
Side Note: And, let us not forget, this is the sexiest of Sexy Brain dramas.
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Stellar Drama Combing a Revenge Story With Complex Character Dynamics
Nirvana in Fire took a few episodes to grab me, and I was definitely hesitant to start such a long series. But, in the end, it turned out to be a captivating story with interesting, tense character dynamics and a brilliantly dramatic overarching conflict.ACTING
There's not really much I can say here - all the performances are quite good, with a special commendation to those who play Changsu's retainers, Eunuch Gao, The Emperor, and Prince Jingyan. The interaction between The Emperor and Jingyan especially feels very natural and portrays the complex dynamic between absolute ruler and son quite well.
MUSIC
The music took a while to grow on me, but like the series, it's a bit of a slow burn. The OST is well-placed in each episode and rarely feels awkward, while the opening and ending are both references to some of the underlying themes in the show (with the butterfly prevalent in the opening being a particularly poignant double-metaphor). I rated the music slightly less for those few times that the songs feel a bit overplayed.
STORY
The story and characters - these are the real reason to watch Nirvana in Fire. The plot could be roughly broken down into several arcs in which tie together in Mei Changsu's ultimate "revenge" plot. I won't go into details here for risk of spoilers, but each arc roughly involves a new event or circumstance that at least one major actor - Changsu being the most common - tries to take advantage of. The other characters in advisory positions react and attempt to put out fires (sometimes literally) while slowly shifting the politics of the court one way or the other.
All of the plotting one way or the other eventually comes down to The Emperor. Nirvana in Fire portrays the role between various court actors and The Emperor better than any other series I've seen. How The Emperor will react, what he wishes, who he'll be suspicious of - everyone who plays the game of the court ultimately has their focus on its head. And given the goals of each of the characters - which often conflict with The Emperor's desires - subtly changing the atmosphere by planning events days in advance can be essential to ensuring a plan succeeds.
SUMMARY
From start-to-finish, Nirvana in Fire is a stellar drama that combines a driven revenge story with complex character dynamics and courtly politics to create a masterpiece of intrigue and planning.
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