I found this drama randomly on viki.com. At first I wasn't very serious about it because I thought it would be like other dramas I watched before. There are many dramas I like out there so I didn't think it's gonna be a serious condition. I didn't like the title either. Well, for some reason I decided to give a try out of bore. Just to kill leisure time. After watching two episodes, I began to curious about Mei Chungsu. I decided to watch more. And after five episode, I realized it was a good drama. Then after watching to episode fifteen, I couldn't stop myself from thinking about it. LOL.. On new year's eve, I came back home from work early around 10:30 in the morning. As soon as I came back I didn't eat or do anything, but started watching it till 3:30 a.m. the next morning. I didn't know how the NewYear passed. I watched again the next day I woke up. I slept at 2:30 a.m. in the next morning again. You can imagine how I would look like by now. My eyes were red with dark cycles and eye bags. My lips were white and had to go into bathroom to wash my face with cold water many times at work. Yet I thought of this drama all day at work. T_T
The drama doesn't have much romance but it was brotherly, and family love which made my heart melts. It was about a very intelligent but sick man name Mei ChungSu, his friends and relatives. Basically political scenes but with deep meanings tied to it. I love the plotting. Every move every character made seemed simple but later revelations were astounding. That is which made the drama more interesting episode after episode. Mei Chungsu was the main character but you won't see him very often yet all characters and plots played out perfectly to convey the true character of Mei Chunsu.
It was REALLY GOOD. I didn't want it to end. I want to keep watching it. But sadly I finished it. :(
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And boy, did I regretted that choice! Not because this drama was a flop, but it was an absolute crack! I find myself marathoning the whole series one episode after another for the entire week without doing much work.
In terms of plot, I have read the novel prior to watching the show, so I came in with the expectation of a highly intricate and well-woven plot. But the changes made in the series has been mostly for the better part and I didn't find any dissatisfying moments at all! In fact, I think they have changed some of the things I could care less from the book and make the entire plot more tightly woven in terms of the narrative with a more focused perspective on the battle to the throne. I know the ending has been slightly controversial and I am glad they have decided to stay true to the original work and kept it the way it is, except for elaborating on truly dealing with how differently each character would react. The ending for this show is one of my top favourites of all time for sure!
For the acting in this series, I have to say I was surprised at the 180º change Hu Ge is able to pull off. He has always been associated as a pretty face in my impression and at most a decent actor. However, this series has officially pulled him out from the slightly-better-than-mediocre crowd and into one of the best actors I've seen in a long while! The fact that he is able to overcome most of his trauma from the accident and is able to show so much more through the way he communicates with both of his eyes is a huge step towards becoming a truly great actor. I think he has the potential to keep up with this quality of work as long as he meets a good script and good director.
This show is a definite must-watch for anyone who is interested in historical dramas or even just for the eye-candy! There are so many different types of men to choose from, it's like a feast of varieties in terms of your own preference. One thing I also really liked is the strong female characters in this show and the romance between the lead characters aren't as forced as it was in the Disguiser (a series which featured many from the same cast and the romance was handled very poorly). The fact that each woman can stand for her own is impressive and that the relationships between characters (not limited to romantic relationships) are so much more realistic and sincere without the forcibly added romance commonly seen in other dramas.
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There are many surprises coming along the way. You'd feel all kind of emotions watching this drama. Even though it feels like such a long journey to watch 54 episodes, it actually won't feel like it took that much time. Because, you just can't stop watching! Seriously, every episode leaves you hanging like 'my mind won't feel at ease if I don't watch the next episode' 'ok just one more episode for tonight' and you'll (me) end(ed) watching not just one more but MORE episodes. Lol I even got a cold because I only slept for a few hours these last few days, I can't stop wanting more, I just can't.
I like this drama because its' story is different, in terms of the main role, how he is barely struggling for his life and still wanting to bring justice and the truth, while doing this and that, hiding this and that. It's more than just about conspiracy, corrupt people, injustice, and battles.
And the scenes with sword fighting is also amusing to watch.
The actors, the actresses, their acting is marvelous.
This drama is very detailed, with the scenes, the talkings, the gestures/body language and facial expressions, etc etc.
The ending is also beautiful in its way.
Totally worth your time to watch this drama.
Like R-E-A-L-L-Y.
P.S.: I'm re-watching it now. I rarely re-watch movies/dramas (so rare, it can be counted by fingers, especially dramas I rewatched it accidentaly when it's on tv only), moreover it's not long (ONLY BEEN ONE DAY) since I finished it. I need more Mei Changsu & Prince Jing & Fei Liu & Meng Zhi & Princess Nihuang please helpppp.
I'm in agony...
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From the very start, you are thrown into the story with little to no context. It is definitely confusing having no backstory to go on. You must give the drama your absolute undivided attention because every line of the dialogue, every little detail will come back to bite you.
This show is highly intelligent, with long conversations that drive the plot. It's tightly written and there are no filler episodes, which I appreciate. There are many, many characters but all are important. However, I did not expect them to be written so well. Every character is complex, has their own backstory, motives and a role in the Grand Plan. This cast is the most solid ensemble I've seen in Asian television. The casting director is an absolute genius.
You would expect political dramas to be more fast-paced. However, I find the slower pace of Nirvana in Fire perfect. The schemers and our heroes are not out in the open, they must try to hide their actions from the highly suspicious Emperor. And for this reason, story arcs tend to build up slowly, rather than dramatically. The slower pace also allows us to absorb the onslaught of information properly.
Upon finishing this magnificent drama, the first thought is to begin the journey all over again. To catch every single detail, to pay more attention to the costuming, to marvel at the beauty of the set, to get lost in the sounds of traditional Chinese instruments, to observe how exactly Mei Changsu kicked his Grand Plan into motion.
Ultimately, Nirvana in Fire stole my heart because of the themes it explores. The writer epically exemplifies the relationships between brotherhood, justice, truth, honour, loyalty, morality and love until you're not sure where one begins and the other ends. To fight against adversity for what you believe in is no easy feat. And it is the fire and determination our heroes use to do this that makes Nirvana in Fire resonate in our hearts.
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With all that said, the plot, as brilliantly written and executed as it was actually took a backseat to the relationships between the characters. When Mei Changsu and Jingyan were together on the screen, you could hardly look away hoping that this would be the moment that they acknowledged each other. Each achingly painful interaction felt like eternity. At the end, you really could not help but feel for both of these characters. Their bromance and loyalty to each other felt more moving than any romance arc. Other relationships such as the one Mei Changsu has with all the members of his posse felt real and were equally moving. I honestly believe that the most brilliant aspect of Mei's character was his ability to captivate people. With that quality, he managed to use, manipulate and inspire all those around him to help him achieve his goal. The fact that Mei was terminally ill also provided an interesting dynamic to his, at times, superhuman mind.
Another wonderful aspect of this drama was the slew of brilliant supporting characters. Each actor/ actress dominated their roles. The music, camera work, sets, costumes... man, I could go on and on raving about it all. The world of Nirvana really came to life. The only criticism I have is that the ending felt a bit rushed and left me feeling like I needed closure. However, it was a fitting ending to the ride. In short, this is a must watch. Go on. What are you waiting for?
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So, I finally went back to watching it. Still found it difficult, then around the mid-30ish episodes all hell started to break lose. I don't think it was necessarily that the pace picked up as much as it was just so much intricate stuff unfolding over and over you started to be curious how all of it was gonna play out...
AND the BROMANCE really started getting heated up. In vary ways, not just with one single pairing of dudes but MULTIPLE pairs of dudes did I start getting an underlying BL feel but in a very "beautiful and undirty" way. You're not ashamed to "ship" these guys being "BROS". You actually truly appreciate the loyalty and commitments everyone has for each other. Not to discount that there are some very strong females, but, YES, it is a FACT that in this series, pretty much most of the woman are secondary, except for how they can be "used" in a "positive" way to meet the objectives. But, you really do get excited for the bromances overall.
In the end, as I had stated, I never truly felt like I was invested in any one particular person. It's not like the outcome was anything that couldn't be easily predicted. It can, AND it should be predictable. The thing that ended up being unpredictable and surprising to me was MY actual REACTION to the end. I in no way felt like this show was making me emotional. Intrigued, curious, yes; emotion, no. YET, when it came to the last 1/2 of the LAST episode I found myself 100% in utter tears, a sobbing mess, that I couldn't even contain myself and started literally crying out loud, saying, "WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF!?! I HATE THE CHINESE!" ...and I mean that with all deference attached to it...
I've watched a number of Asian dramas in the last 8 years and the fair share of them had heart-wrenching endings... BUT THERE ARE THE HANDFUL THAT ACTUALLY GOT ME TO LITERALLY SOB OUT LOUD! I've cried, but I'm not an easily emotional woman. I don't take to sobbing my heart out... and well, YES, that's exactly what this series pulled out of me, as much as I tried to remain unattached and emotionless through all 54 episodes... it still managed to squeeze that shit out of me against, what I felt, was my will. ...That's some powerful stuff right there.
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Story:
I tend to be a little wary with Chinese historical dramas, because too often you get bogged down by all the palace politics and it might be intriguing for some people, but not for me. Nirvana In Fire didn't let itself get fixated on what was going on in the palace - Mei Changsu was the heart of this story, and it's so refreshing to have a drama with such an (actually) intelligent character. I'm hesitant to label this as a revenge story - I actually see it more as one of redemption. Mei Changsu was a beautifully complex character, who was once a noble and upright young man and has been hardened and jaded. That doesn't mean he's lost his moral compass, but he is no longer as innocent, and it's reflected well in how he manipulates the people around him. I loved how deftly Mei Changsu handled every situation - not that Plan A always worked out - but while he always tried to maintain several steps ahead of his opponents, he was also well aware that wasn't always possible. Prince Jing's character was essential to the story, and while I did find his sense of right and wrong tiring at times, it was awesome to see his friendship with Mei Changsu develop. Despite being fifty episodes, there wasn't a dull moment, and the writing was intelligent and well thought out, without being confusing and overwhelming. The direction was beautiful and everything was well shot - it had a very cinematic feel to it.
Also - I actually really liked the fact that the story is not based on real history. It means that the writer has a little more leeway with her characters. I especially love the existence of strong female characters here - one is a detective and one is a general, and they are both so awesome.
Characters/Acting/Cast:
The fanwars aside, this cast was absolutely amazing. I love ensemble casts because the story doesn't depend on one star - instead, they can play off each other and bring the best out of one another. With that said, props to Hu Ge - as someone who has seen a lot of his works over the years (from his very first show to his most recent one), I am astounded by how much he's grown as an actor. This was an amazing role for him, and he embodied the complexities of Mei Changsu perfectly. As I mentioned earlier, I found myself so frustrated with Prince Jing at times, but Wang Kai was absolutely great in the role - even though he played a stiff character, he was also able to convey a lot of the fears and hangups of Prince Jing.
And of course, hats off to the rest of the phenomenal cast - especially Victor Huang as Prince Yu, Liu Min Tao as Consort Jing (though when is she not awesome?), and Wang Jin Song as Marquise Yan. The latter especially actually played a small role in comparison, but he had such a great presence. One thing that the Shanying team has been great in is pairing up their youngest stars with a great veteran cast, and Nirvana In Fire was no exception.
Music: The music that they chose for this show was beautiful, both from a musical and lyrical perspective. I love the fact that Liu Tao, Hu Ge, and Wang Kai all got to sing their own versions of some of the songs - it added a bit of dimension to the music and made some scenes even more poignant.
If you've been burned by Chinese dramas in the past, don't skip out on this one - this is probably as perfect of a drama as you are going to get.
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After a few episode this instantly became my obsession and I finished all 54 episode in 3-4 days. Amazing. Simply amazing, whether it was the brilliant storyline, the inhumanly good acting by the heroes and villains alike, or the astounding cinematography. The music was also so on point I actually want to download all of it now.
The relationships between the characters are heart wrenchingly good, especially the bromance between the two male leads. It might just be me, but I especially liked the fact that the second main lead had no idea the first main lead was his childhood friend and kept going back between distrustful cooperation yet suspicious hope and longing. The bond was very deep and moving, I actually cried at one point, though the last time I cried because of a show was in like... 2004 when a character died in some cartoon and I was 7. The grief and heartbreak they feel is almost tangible, that's how good the acting is. Bonus points for not focusing on the romance part of the story too much as it often ruins everything in other dramas, though with the skill the writers have shown here they might just have pulled it off even if they wanted to take that path.
I also liked how the mc wasn't God incarnate and stupidly good at every single thing. It is established early on that though his mind is extraordinary, his illness gives him an extremely weak body (that doesn't magically become strong because the plot requires it). It develops the character in wonderful ways, where you can see how he has to be extra extra careful to stay one step ahead and protect himself. The moments of illness also make some really good, touching scenes especially to help the bromance along.
One of the things I liked most was how almost all of the characters actually had a brain. The logic behind their actions is (for once) something that actual people would do in their place, not some retarded, half assed hero plan that doesn't sound remotely plausible yet works because hey he's the mc. Everything is just written so cleverly; the characters are all intelligent! We are told the mc is a genius but unlike other dramas where we're told he is one and then he proceeds to act stupidly for the duration of the show, with halfassed plans that work because the power of friendship solves everything, not good planning and strategies, here we have amazing plans, brilliant counters, you can basically feel genius oozing off of him, there's no need for the show to even state he's a genius (tho it does) because the acting and writing are just that good. As a bonus, there are also no dumbass cartoon villains with halfwit subordinates.
Honestly, all in all this was just so satisfying it often had me screaming in glee with my family/friends nearby rolling their eyes and asking if it was that good. The answer is yes, yes it's that good.
So good, in fact, that I rewatched it immediately after finishing it for the first time. It was actually that amazing.
One thing you should not thought is that the first episode can be kinda hard to get into, you really start getting into it by the end of episode 2, and from then on its basically a roller coaster ride of sleep deprivation because your eyes are glued to the screen. All I can say is thank god I only watched after it finished airing, or I would have been anxious waiting for every single episode on the edge of my seat.
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2Let's talk about politics!
Last year I started this drama with the expectation of an epic revenge-historical story given the high ratings and reviews. However, the drama turned out to be more of a political story than a historical drama and being too boring for my personal taste it ended up on my drop list. This year I decided to give it a second chance trying to put my prejudices aside, but the drama did not pay off my patience and proved to be an extremely overrated title.The promise of revenge in a historical setting is transformed from the first episodes into a political drama told through the dialogues of the characters. I cannot declare in a review that the drama is boring and that this type of directing is not good because it depends on personal taste, but I can judge if the directing is suitable for the type of story being told and the answer is NO.
As I always say, a drama can have the best story in the world but it is useless if it is told badly, and the storytelling chosen for NIF is bad. Not only is the action reduced to a minimum, but a large part of the story is told through the dialogues of the characters, listening to them or rather by reading the subtitles, we will discover facts and/or people that we have not yet seen on the screen and, in some cases, we will never see. Add to this a story that is not as exceptional as many say.
The protagonist is a strategist acclaimed by many since he has been planning his revenge for years, thanks to a dense network of spies. He is also afflicted by a disease of which very little is revealed to us for the sole purpose of being able to then exploit it for twists related to pills and various poisons. In addition, he refuses to reveal his identity to his allies even when some of them still discover the truth, the reasons behind it is the same as above, being able to exploit the relationship of friendship, trust, and distrust that is created precisely because of his false identity.
From this type of protagonist, who can only fight with the intellect and not with brute force, I expected refined strategic plans, instead, he actually limits himself to waiting for his enemies to get into trouble, when this happens, he maneuvers the court to bring them down and replace them with trusted people. Being enemies of high rank, the punishments they go against are summed up in exile or loss of rank - political power, leaving the viewer with a sense of dissatisfaction, as the main purpose would theoretically be revenge.
The more the story progresses, the more we realize that the protagonist is infallible, even in the few moments of difficulty, which obviously occur when he is unable to act due to his illness, we already know that he will be able to get away with it. All this makes the story particularly tedious, but also predictable and above all unexciting, since we already know that there will be no serious consequences for the enemies and that the ML will win at the end. Rinse and repeat for 54 episodes and you will start to not feel anything for anyone, included for those few twists plot placed along the way.
Overall, the author is one of those who makes everything fit together in a convenient way and the story develops in a very repetitive pattern, including the characterization of the characters. The clever and lazy style of the author stands out particularly in the ending, where not knowing which alternative to choose, he proposes both, with a protagonist that in the penultimate episode declares one thing and then does the opposite in the final episode.
Add a non-existent romance, some stupid characters to the point that the protagonist always has to explain to them the reason for his actions, villains of little depth, more annoying than bad, and what remains? Great cinematography, music, and good acting, definitely not enough to balance almost 54 hours of political chatting.
Overall, NIF is a political drama where conspiracy rules instead of revenge that it takes courage to call it such since the main purpose was actually to bring justice to innocently slaughtered people. The convenient writing that passes itself off as intellectual and the direction that uses dialogue to tell a story that should be shown have damaged the entire production. Cinematography, music, and acting are saved, but they are not worth the hours it takes to finish it.
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and secondly i dont watch dramas with a lot of episodes, but this drama after episode 6 it hooked me! The plot was brilliant you dint know what to expect ,the acting was so realist in some scenes i could hold my tears.Finally for me this drama was top in chinese dramas.
Please excuse me for my bad english
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Looks perfect except that all the female characters dont even play roles that qualify as supporting.
The best is extended cameo. It looks like the female characters are being hurried off the screen.
The strong strength is that it is separated into arcs that are resolved satisfactorily without letting the story get convoluted, but even arcs in which females play important they seemed hurried off (Banruo from the Hua tribe). She is the ever present female character but her story was too rushed.
I skipped over 25 episodes to verify that I would be satisfied at the end and I was.
Its a satisfying story and being wuxia it promotes morals. It very realistic even with the wuxia element, historically accurate too in depictions, sadly it didnt do the women more justice.
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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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