wuwei

Here's a live version for one of the OST's of this beautiful show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFw_m1tCDa0
The song reminds me of the final scenes—and words can't describe how sad but beautiful and honest they were. Few shows manage to impact me on a deep level, but this is one of them, a year later still as indelible.

Watched 2 eps so far and I'm enjoying it immensely, but the subs are horrible. Engrish. Has anyone been able to find decent subs? From Europe so Viki & Dramafever aren't viable options.

@Saranghae89 I feel like many viewers here just like to complain. It's totally justifiable from a directing standpoint to portray that a person can become attracted and admire someone before they even start talking to them (ramen scene)—it happens in real life, duh. I'd understand if the critique was merely wishing scenes like that were shorter and more subtle perhaps, but to discredit an entire show based on that alone is dishonest.

The K2 has solid writing and excellent directing overall, but people need to understand that some tradeoffs are necessary given the medium. I'd take the ramen scene over any generic forced comedy that pervades most kdramas nowadays.

Ahhh I'm liking this one—Characters with depth, an appealingly distinct atmosphere, a directing style that prefers to show instead of tell, stylish action scenes and a strong acting cast to boot. Great to experience quality like this in K-drama land, it might just become my drama of the year.

Ep 8-9: Beautiful to see the quality step up—Intensity, atmosphere, flow of the narrative—everything feels sharper and it's much more enjoyable to watch.

I see what you're saying but it's too early to judge the story as a whole—they're still laying out the groundwork for the plot. And while execution-wise, it's been mostly average, I think the core elements in this show (if handled well) are enough to make it redeem itself once the story takes off. As for acting: Lee Joon Gi. Just wait until he becomes central to the plot, we are in for a ride.

Well not a youth drama (horse beheadings in plain sight lol), but a trendy one for sure, and it worked against them as you said.. I think the k-pop here is part of that problem as well; choosing music because the perceived audience might like it, not because it serves a purpose for the overall narrative.

Surely the type of modern music she's hinting at is the sort of overproduced k-pop that intrudes much of this show. "Bakkwoa" was functional: it's upbeat, fiery and blended perfectly well with the battle scenes of Chuno. "Vola" was excellent background music.
But generic kpop (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9slxAgGRWg) in a sageuk?

No, nothing major, story is the same. It's just a few scenes that have been edited in/out in the SBS version, to increase domestic viewership.

Can someone explain why there are two versions of episode 6?? Totally lost here as to what to watch.

Gosh this is good. Intrigued at how I'm halfway through the show, but yet completely clueless as to what might happen next. Super refreshing story and the leads are doing a great job.

Very Inconsistent acting by the female lead.. She has an undeniable charm but something's missing in the acting department. Other than that a really refreshing story & LJS has really improved. Enjoying it thus far!

https://www1.ondramanice.tv/drama/resurrection-detail

Accomplishes so much with so little. Beautiful.

I was asked by a user my opinions of the show & whether its worth watching. Thought I'd paste my response here for others wondering the same and for who else my thoughts may be of use:
//
It's a solid drama for sure. Where it excels is in the political schemes of the court, always suspenseful & unpredictable. Also the cinematography is simply stunning.

My quibble with Nirvana in the Fire lies in it's portrayal of Revenge. It's lacking and it does so in the most intangible way. Not in the acting (Hu Ge does a commendable job here), nor in "plot" which is very well constructed. I think what I'm getting at is that the director has a tendency to "tell instead of show". My favorite drama of all time (Rebirth) is a revenge drama, and what it managed to convey is; showing the intense pain of the main character, in every breath, step he takes. Sure, when he uttered his contempt for, or did something morally questionable towards the object of his revenge we got it, He seeks revenge. But it's really the expression the character conveys in each moment (even in trivial things) that makes us really feel his pain and partake in the experience.

Here is where Nirvana in the Fire fails for me. In the mist of all action and suspense, it forgets to communicate the most important experience to the viewer: Why Mei Chang Su seeks revenge in the first place. A few flashbacks of the great adversities of his youth isn't enough to convey this.

Despite all this it's a very enjoyable show, and If you like dramas that keeps you on the edge of your seat I think you'll like this big time. Hope this helps.
//

<3

I really don't think the complaints will lead to any changes to the show. Since the drama takes such a different approach to the filming the viewers don't know what to expect, so some of these reactions and complaints the actors and drama production team probably already knew would come beforehand. As soon as the story picks up (as it did in ep 4 and the 13% ratings reflect that) the complaints will cease and everyone will say they loveed this show since the beginning and blahblah. But yeah it's sad that people immediately dismiss something just because it has the courage to take the road less taken.

Has anyone found the subs? (apart from dramafever)

Yeah blood was a joke lol. @akisame I might have exaggerated in my comment, but I just think that kbs has lowered their quality of dramas compared to just a few years ago which is sad. Same tropes and cliches, to many models getting undeserved main character roles, producers more concerned with shoving up Samsung and other product placements in every scene rather than directing a bearable script etc. just overall harder to find something interesting to watch. My ptw list is long though so I shouldn't complain :p

<3