Love of Nirvana (2024)

Brilliant scheming drama full of smart characters, equally matched in term of wit and mind games.

I always want Ren Jialun in heavy scheme political drama and I finally got my wish with Love of Nirvana. I love how clever and matched everyone is in this games of wit and how everyone literally aware of everyone's scheming and mind games. The steps are either 2 or 3 ahead and you only see it when it happens. Some of the chess moves are really unexpected, surprising and also served as plot twists. I usually can only guess the first step as the 2nd step usually comes later when you see the water repels on the course of the actions.

THE PREMISE

At first, you need to understand the premise of this drama on how the ML and FL first met each other. The ML is from Yueluo, a slave nation while the FL is from Liang, the nation that enslaved his people -- so obviously, he only has contempt and hatred towards the Liang people. The point when you watch this drama is see the leads as enemies at war instead of love interest since that is what they truly are -- all they wanted to do is to kill each other, genuinely. The romance only come much later when they finally see each other for who they truly are -- which is the same kind of people of the opposite sites. They did not romanticize it at all which I appreciate. It supposed to be seen as torture and nothing else -- she is a Liang woman assisting a Liang official and mess up his missions again & again -- its as simple as that. If you can get over this part, then you gonna enjoy the ride since this drama is full of twist and surprises.

THE COMPLEX CHARACTERS

All the three leads are characters who is not only complex, but also full of layers with very clear motives. You are not supposed to judge them at first glance since they are all wearing masks intended to misled your first impressions. The 'mask' that Wei Zhou is wearing is a symbol not only used literally to hide his identity but as well as figuratively for the audiences not to judge him and perceived him on the surface -- the cruel assassin mask he put on during his missions, then another façade he is putting when he is in his official robes in front of everyone and his real face -- the look of sadness and helplessness like how everything inside of him is crumbing down when he put the names of his fallen people inside the box after failed missions. The same can be seen with Jiang Ci, our female lead -- on the front she is just this bubbly girl who smile a lot but she is actually one of the cleverest characters on the show. She knew she being used but regardless of that, she wont let anyone used her as can be seen in this drama -- Wei Zhou can used her as a pawn and looks where it got him. Same with Pei Yan trying to control her freedom -- and look how she ended up doing thing exactly where her heart tells her to. Same with Pei Yan -- do not be fooled with his nice and gentle demeanor as he is as manipulative and cunning. Under his good guy persona, he fools everyone to get what he wants. But at the same time, his concern towards Jiang Ci is genuine which add to the weird complexity of his character. Between his loyalty to his country and his filial piety towards his mother who raised him, its all adds up to make him the man that he is.

THE SMART & BRILLIANT SCRIPT FULL OF SYMBOLISMS, METAPHORS, ANALOGIES, HIDDEN MEANINGS, FORESHADOWINGS & THE USAGE OF UNIQUE & CREATIVE STORYTELLING

The scheming and mind games in Love of Nirvana is so well written as it involves really high level chess game moves from both sides. They are all shades of grey which makes everything even more interesting since they basically have no limit. How brilliant is the scheming? It even involves planting a wrong thoughts on innocent person to give misleading impressions towards the enemies. And the drama does a lot of ''show'' instead of ''tell'' so you have to be aware of every clues, smirk, moves and objects as they are used to show the characters motives and actions as well as their thoughts.

The symbolisms used in this drama is really a lot. I love how they show Wei Zhou kept a white bird in a beautiful big cage as the bird represent himself -- the hidden identity of lavish lifestyle with richness and adoration but actually trapped and wanting to get the freedom and justice he longed for his people who being sold as slaves and prostitutes and they humiliation they faced under the Liang's tyranny. Also, the symbolism of Pei Yan repelling the water in a calm pond of fish is the literal things he did to his corrupt family members which turning their peaceful world upside down like he has the hands of God. Aside from that, the use of object to show intention of the character is done marvelously. In one of the scenes, they show Wei Zhou rejected Madam Ronggue's offer of collaboration with tea; 'The tea is quite nice, but it's not to my liking' then the camera proceed with the focus of Madam Ronggue pouring the tea anyway inside his empty cup after he leaves and said 'It's not up to him to decide.' -- thus we knew what is her next chess moves after that.

Also, I love the metaphor of the black orchid seed which being used and described by Jiang Ci -- again, figuratively and literally. The black orchid seed can't be washed no matter how you try to get rid of it which she used on Wei Zhou to track where he goes as evidence. Just like the seed of doubt she planted on Pei Yan or the Emperor (no matter how much Wei Zhou try to wash it later) and these doubts will kept on growing and will crack with times if they managed to read her letter.

Aside from that, the foreshadowing -- there are so much of it all over the drama. From the song lyrics (which has hints of the ending) to all the leads' conversations with each other like the conversation that Jiang Ci had with Pei Yan about the big responsibility or big picture and how admirable Pei Yan is for holding out to that one. No, it wasn't to show where love blooms between them but it is to give us the insight of what's inside her head -- the understanding and admiration she has towards people who fight for what is right which is what Wei Zhou is doing for his people. It wasn't the red flag where he torture her that made she fall for him, but she finally see him beyond the façade he put or the masks he wears -- he might fool other people like the sword dance he did in front of everyone but she truly see him as what he is beyond the act he put in front of her. I thought the directing is great for the particular scene and the point of turn where Jiang Ci finally see Wei Zhou in different light.

The drama also trust you as an audiences to remember the details and make the connections and compare on the actions and behaviors of the characters. For an example, the contrast of actions of the characters of the 2 male leads -- it is done so subtlety to show to the audiences the swift change in state of mind of Jiang Ci. For starter, we all know how free spirited is Jiang Ci -- while Pei Yan clipped her wings, Wei Zhou in the other hands lets her fly and spread her wings. Pei Yan will limit what Jiang Ci wants to do while Wei Zhou will praise her and ask her to show more of her skills and abilities. Also, when Jiang Ci wants to join any investigation, Pei Yan will stop and forbid her while Wei Zhou will open the door for her. And while doing good deeds to the poor people, Wei Zhou did it at the back without anyone knowing while Pei Yan doing it openly and get adored by everyone. Apart from that, when Jiang Ci gave them the food of the poor, Wei Zhou accept and eat it while Pei Yan left it untouched. This all have the same situation but produce different kind of results between these 2 characters. As to why this 2 gives a very different reactions to the same situation? It comes back to their childhood. While both of them are caged birds, Wei Zhou grew up in a loving family during his fundamental childhood development years where he is taught compassion, love and also understanding -- he only caught later and become slave after that. While Pei Yan grew up in a completely toxic environment the whole of his life which build this very obsessive traits inside of him. While Wei Zhou only become ruthless and unhinged when he's in a mask, he is become kinder to everyone once they are in his intimate circle just like what Jiang Ci has becomes. Thats why Jiang Ci is no longer afraid of him since she seen him without the 'mask'. While Pei Yan in the other hand become completely different when someone become closer to him -- he ended up becoming controlling and taking away their agency just like the 'love' he knew from his mother. Thus, this completely different results of the same situation from the two of them.

Also, the use of deceptive storytelling. The fun part of scheming drama is for you to guess the outcome and Love of Nirvana done this part really well. They will show misleading scenes but at the same time giving different clues so you can guess together with the main characters until the truth is revealed. A lot of plot twists are happened this way that totally caught you off guard but once you know it, it made complete sense and how those clues aligned like pieces of puzzles.

Aside from that, the use of poems to convey emotion are done brilliantly. The prime example of this is the Poem Banquet at the Eastern Palace. All of them are speaking in riddles with flowers as the topic but actually sending their personal message to Jiang Ci. And Jiang Ci, the clever girl that she is responding the opposite and burnt them with her replies. The whole scene is like a smart people conversation with each other -- poetic, seemed unharmed exchanged of literature piece to outsiders but laced with poisonous message to those people it directed to. Not to mention the conversations full of riddles. Like the conversation that Wei Zhou have with the Emperor. They are talking in metaphor but both understand each other clearly.

THE THEME OF REVENGE, FREEDOM, HOPE, PREJUDICE & FILIAL PIETY

From how restricting on 'freedom' did to people and the baggage they have to carry and live with -- which can be seen with Jiang Ci's characteristics (a free bird) and both of the MLs' characteristics (caged beautiful birds) and how they turn out to be. Also, the message of 'Hope' is all over the drama -- how the Liangjiu flowers has stopped blooming for 20 years due to the mass grave but has bloomed again. And also the theme of prejudice -- how Wei Zhou is also shedding his prejudice slowly towards the Liang people and also helped them fighting against their corrupt officials.

This drama also deals with really heavy themes, decisions and choices. And the complexity of it makes it a very good watch as they are not sugar-coating it. We see Pei Yan's dilemma when he wants to stop the case only at corruption only at Nanling. Did he made the right decision to cast aside the SA victims? Of course not. But if the case go beyond corruption only, his clan, hundred of people will be annihilated since rebellion is a huge crime. Do you hate him? Of course! But do you understand his reasons? Yes as well. This also can be seen when Wei Zhou has to make the hard decision of opening the city gate or let all the hostages die. Not to mention in the last arc where he need to chose his own wish or the safety of his people. All these difficult decision making are done carefully without taking lightly of subject matters.

But despite this, there so many silver linings in the drama -- like the Lingjiu flowers that blooms again at Yueluo. Or the friendship that Jiang Ci form with all the Yueluo people -- at first they hate her but then they ended up really adore and love her. The hope of message is everywhere. Wei Zhou once told Jiang Ci that she cant change people -- him or anyone else. But we see how untrue is that. The irony of that statement and how its killing him later to make that difficult decision to deceive her. The drama deals with lots of heavy stuffs. It certainly not for everyone but it made sense, you understand the characters and why they are making those choices.

THE ROMANCE

While the romance is really slow burn, the progress of the 2 main leads' relationship was done delicately. Ren Jialun has amazing amazing chemistry with Li Landi. Lots of their scenes together involves staring into each other but instead of it being awkward, all those scenes glows beautifully. I love how she touched him with his childhood swing and tease him with it or how he drew on her face to cheer her up or just their interactions with each other -- it was really wholesome and sweet.

And I love the scene where Wei Zhou is having a nightmare and Jiang Ci pet his hands to calm him down. He was so restrained even when he's in his private time -- he just grip his blanket tightly and still suppressing whatever things that haunt him in his sleep. Then you realized that Wei Zhou as a character is actually very restrained even in his crazy and unhinged phase -- he could make a new wound on Jiang Ci everytime he faces her but instead, he just poking her wound instead to remind her. I love the consistencies in the writing and you can see how its all adds up to the layers of his character.

Also, the depiction on how Wei Zhou slowly wear himself down around Jiang Ci is a joy to see. In the straining of his shoulder scene where she is putting medicine on him, the stare that he gave her is the confident stare -- like he had her on the palm of his hands. But later, all those confident stares are gone -- when she falls down on him or when he saw her washing his face and neck or when he found her hugging him in his sleep, it was 'Oh noes, I'm in deep trouble!' face since now it is him who is at her disposal.

On top of that, I love how even when they are at their angsty part of the relationship but the show still managed to make it healing as well. There is thorn, but there is hope as well. Just like when Wei Zhou was given the poisonous flowers by Jiang Ci, but he gave her back small red flowers that she placed on his hair at Yueluo to show that all flowers will bloom again just like their love. I love how this small red flowers are used as their language of love towards each other as he used the same red flowers later to tell her that he will protect her. I really love all this hidden message that we can get from the subtle storytelling.

Aside from that, I love how many of their scenes together conveyed so many things despite many thing are left unspoken. For an example the scene where Wei Zhou fainted after the war and woke up on the bed and Jiang Ci is feeding him the orange. The way the Director focus on his trembling hands and the way Jiang Ci cries silently beside him -- it is to show that she knew he was poisoned but she didn't say anything since she knew he doesn't want her to know. And him looking guilty but also chose to stay silent since if they actually say it out loud -- it will be too unfair, thus not saying anything at all is the kinder way for them to cope with the tragedy. I'm so marveled at how the writer, director and both Ren Jialun and Li Landi conveyed that scene -- it made the scene more heartbreaking and devastating somehow.

CONCLUSION

The drama is so well written with lots of heavy themes and they were handled brilliantly. I love how it did not shy away to show how all these characters are making really hard decisions and they are not sugar coating or give them the easy way out. And all the scheming and mind games are top level but most of all, the amazing script! The conversations full of riddles, the use of symbolisms, metaphors, analogies, foreshadowing and deceptive storytelling made it such a fun ride.

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NO SPOILERS . Is it stockholm syndrom or can love bloom from overcoming hardship together?

The story : On his quest for revenge, Wei Zhao crosses paths with Jiang Ci, who spoils every plans he makes.
However, getting to know each other they are drawn to one another.

First of all, when I saw how Male Lead treated Female Lead, I could not help but wondering if Female Lead suffered from stockholm syndrom ? How can she fall for someone who harmed her like that ?
Then, as the story progressed I understood that those two share a special / unspeakable bond.
They managed to find love and had a great chemistry in the middle of such dire situations. And this, in it-self is a challenge.
ML and FL still brought me with them as I witnessed their slowburn romance, full of attraction, riddles, subtile messages, amorous glares...
So as much as I was shocked by ML at first and also feared for FL's life, I was rooting for Wei Zhao and Jiang Ci's love in the end.

Pros :
- Smart countryside Female Lead .
- Smart high ranking court officer, Male Lead.
- Good action scenes.
- Mortal Enemies to lovers trope. Male Lead's killing spree goes far, as he is aiming at Female Lead and that's surprising.
- Great acting.
- Great revenge quest for the hero whose kingdom's population was slaughtered and enslaved.
- The plot is complex. That's a good thing because it is promising and can surprise the viewer. At times your blood might boil for witnessing injustices. But this is proof of a good story.
- Very emotional topics are dealt with : genocide, slavery, fight for survival, conspiracy, rebellion, human trafficking...
- Sprinkle of romance, which I think is great because the emotional and political story make the romance more endearing.
- Well written script filled with symbolism and duality (every plot point faces its opposite) : slavery/freedom, conceal /show, belitteling/praising... So you can have different level of understanding of the narrative because the writer thinks that you are smart enough to piece them together. I like that.

Cons :
- As the drama aired, I thought is was one of the last performances of Jeremy Tsui as a Second Male Lead before retirement. I was sad ?! And hope to see him again. Good news, he is coming back to acting. My wish was granted, I am very happy. He is such a great actor.
- Sadistic assassin Male Lead who supresses his emotions and live like a machine. That's a Red Flag.
- There are some glitches in the CGI. For example here : they stopped the CGI before finishing the scene (^_^) I laughed so much o_O
Are they saving money on CGI budget ? This is weird to see the raw images with subtitles.
https://postimg.cc/Z0WqXVqy


Overall this is a good show : I laughed, I was afraid, relieved... until the very last minutes. The ending was a climax.

It was the most satisfying ending to me, it did justice to the drama and it was also very realistic. I could always dream of a season 2 with an alternate ending that would have sparked even more conspiracies than this one. But the writers did justice to the story of a hero. And I liked it.

Highly rewatchable because there is hidden meaning everywhere, you will discover new clues and symbols at every rewatch.
If you like enemies to lovers stories with intelligent leads, this is for you.


The songs of the OST fit the story perfectly : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PngeJrUTSVo

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Sweet with a bitter aftertaste.

Love of Nirvana or The Flowing Water 流水迢迢 is a deep, dark, intricate and impactful drama about politics, revenge, love and freedom. The plot and characters are three dimensional and the love story unfolds within the complex dynamics of multiple conspiracies and an uneven battle for justice and freedom. Jiang Ci is a free spirited country girl seeking adventure in the Liang capital Qingkang for the first time. She climbs the wrong tree at the wrong time to watch peace talks between the Liang and Wei states and inadvertently foils a dangerous, high stakes mission. Stabbed and then hunted down by a masked intruder who believes she may be able to identify him, she is rescued by the ambitious Marquis Pei Yan. He uses her as bait to lure and capture the masked prowler. Thus a clever and free spirited country girl becomes the pawn of two ruthless men and becomes embroiled in a diabolical conspiracy that oppressed and enslaved the Yueluo people. All of the characters in this story, including the almighty emperor, get to choose their own destiny but not their fate. Like the flowing water that may be momentarily grasped or diverted, fate is ultimately elusive and flows where it will.

This is one of the those dramas where the storytelling respects audience intelligence and perceptiveness. There is very little spoon-feeding or over explanation; we are expected to read the subtext and form our own impressions of what the characters are going through. At the start, I was rooting for Jiang Ci to skin Wei Zhao alive and flaunt his fur like a trophy for the way he treated her. And then with a growing sense of unease that turned into horror, I started to observe the plight of the Yueluo people and the scale of the collective punishment that was being visited upon them. At that point, the narrative angle shifts from Jiang Ci to Wei Zhao and like Jiang Ci, we see his devastating sense of isolation and helplessness; that he alone bears burden of his father's villainy.Jiang Ci's inadvertent and continued meddling had life and death consequences for his men and his cause. Of course he had to deal harshly with her. Jiang Ci doesn't just fall in love with a man, she falls in love with a place and a people who are slowly but surely being erased by Liang's genocidal policies. Their evolution from enemies to lovers is gradual, natural and convincing.

All of the main roles are well portrayed, with the actors conveying multiple layers to their characters via their facial expressions and gestures that goes beyond the dialogue. Ren Jialun is not that versatile an actor but Wei Zhao is the kind of complex, man of few words role that he excels at. With a flicker of an eye, a small frown or a dark glare, he can exude emotions from frustration and anger to sorrow and dismay. The way he regards Jiang Ci changes from rage and hatred to grudging respect and empathy to Ren Jialun's signature bottomless longing. Wei Zhao never dares speaks of the future, it is Jiang Ci who simply refuses to let him pull away. He understands she is a free spirit and his selfless instinct is to set her free in sharp contrast with Pei Yan's selfish obsessiveness and his repeated attempts to cage her. Li Landi's Jiang Ci steps up to the plate to more than meet Wei Zhao halfway. I love how she so unabashedly gushes over how handsome he is and freely expresses her affection for him. Even though the noble Pei Yan has arguably more to offer, she chooses Wei Zhao unconditionally each time. Their sweet loving lies, their body language and the dialogue within their dialogue made me tear up many times.

No one has an upper hand in this story because characters are too clever and adept at pre-empting one another. Xu Zhengxi delivers a evocative portrayal of the brilliant, ambitious, manipulative and controlling Pei Yan. If this role is to be his swan song, it is one that leaves an impression. His ambition and obsessiveness are amplified and exceeded by his mother, the domineering Madame Rongguo; another riveting depiction by the super talented Wen Zhengrong. Unfortunately all of these fantastic characters are dealt a huge disservice in the penultimate arc, where we meet shifu, the only truly stupid and pointless character in this story. All of hitherto smart characters are dumbed down by one or two notches for an unnecessary court power struggle arc and melodrama. Madame Rongguo's overreach was futile and unnecessary and Pei Yan's selfishness had irreversible consequences. Only the wise and constant Cui Liang's character survived that arc that was clearly written by an amateur.

The narrative comes together again for a triumphant, exciting and moving final arc. Fate is blind and the taste of freedom is sweet with a bitter aftertaste. Nobody gets everything that they want but the greater good is achieved at great cost. However, not all the individual outcomes were inevitable and the ending itself could have been more tightly written. It appeared as if they were on the verge of a different, more satisfying ending but didn't have the courage to go there. I will elaborate further on that in a spoiler below. All things considered, this is still one of the better, more memorable period costume dramas this year with a complex and moving plot and outstanding acting. Despite the flaws, it is a story that has enough depth that I am compelled to rate this generously at 8.5/10.0.








ENDING SPOILER


My biggest problem with the ending is that Wei Zhao chose to stay when he could have escaped and left the hairpin behind as evidence that Wei Zhao died and returned to Jiang Ci as Xiao Wuxia. It is clear from the ending footage that they toyed with a "traitorous official Wei Zhao is dead, long live Xiao Wuxia" ending but decided to stay true to the novel. I would have been fine with that if they just blew up the whole thing and didn't give him a choice. The fact that he had one broke me; it was out of character and a betrayal of Jiang Ci. It also made no sense since was never revealed that Wei Zhao is Xiao Wuxia and thus Wei Zhao's actions should not implicate the Yueluo people. It was just dumb and unnecessary noble idiocy. Even though it is a happy ending for Yueluo, it is simply too distressing an outcome for both Xiao Wuxia and Jiang Ci, who deserve better. It would have been just as fitting and much more satisfying for Wei Zhao's memory to live on in infamy while Xiao Wuxia and Jiangci live wild and free with their son even if they can never return to Yueluo. That is how I would have ended this story.

A smaller point, I also hated the maudlin farewell scene. Throughout the show Jiang Ci and Wei Zhao's feelings did not have to be put into words. I wish they kept it that way.











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The dog has eaten my novel

I had high hopes for this drama as it is based on a good story, filled with high-profile actors and the original author was said to be in charge of the script. However, after undergoing the usual “idol”-standardisation of C-dramaland, nothing much of what I previously loved is left.
So if you are a fan of the novel or love dramas with political powerplay, you may want to steer clear of this one.

The plot
Sadly, the plot bears barely any resemblance with the original novel due to sweeping changes to both characters and setting that go far beyond of what would have been required to navigate the limitations imposed by censorship rules. It is clear that in order to make it work on screen the original story would have required some plot re-organisation (in the novel the ML barely appears in the first 30 or so chapters) and some tightening of the story, but what the scriptwriter(s) have come up with is an entirely new story, filled to the brim with the usual boring tropes and shallow romance in which some characters with the same names as in the novel also appear. It is no exaggeration to say that 95% of the plot has been made up by a bunch of rather inept scriptwriters.

I really cannot understand what could have driven the original author to so thoroughly massacre her own work and some of her best characters, but then money is said to corrupt the mind and those who wish to suck up to investors cannot afford a spine.

The result is a boring and highly annoying story in which none of the characters behaves in a consistent way. Whereas the novel had conflicting political ideas about how a government should be run and how the drive for independence of a mountain tribe should be dealt with as the driving force behind the two male leads schemes, the scriptwriters seemed to feel that this would be too much of a challenge to the viewer’s intelligence and reduced their motivation to a simple struggle between personal revenge and protecting one’s family.

Of the three main leads, the FL is without a doubt the most annoying character. Someone who fluctuates between the childish naivety of “let’s feed all the starving people” (how many are there? How much rice does she have”) to outsmarting everyone on numerous occasions (when the two male leads are supposed to be the most intelligent and scheming people around). The way she leads Pei Yan along, seemingly oblivious of his feelings for her, is worthy of any teasing slapper. Her behaviour towards Wei Zhao is just as inconsistent. How can a highly self-righteous goody-two-shoes like her accept being stabbbed, poisoned and tortured by a guy and then forgive it all because of a pretty sword dance? Seriously? Such writing is a slap in the face of any woman who has ever endured violence by a man. There is not much left of the taciturn and carefree young girl that mesmerised Pei Yan in the novel. Given how biased and obnoxious she has become (lying is ok, but only if she does it…) it is hard to understand how anyone would fall in love with her in the first place.

Wei Zhao is probably the character who has been allowed to keep the most of his original flavour.
His sadistic cruelty towards the FL stands in stark contrast to his sentimentality over his sister and friends which feels inconsistent for someone who is supposed to have become cold and unfeeling because of what he went through. Actual trauma victims tend to block out any feelings to protect themselves. This was very cleverly portrayed in the novel, but somehow, the screenwriters thought they knew better and turned the ML into a sobby whimp who instead of only caring about the mission that he devoted his life to, becomes a problem-solving servant to the FL.

The character of the SML, Pei Yan, has been completely distorted, diminished and vilified. Whereas in the novel he was equally matched with the ML both in terms of scheming capacity, political power and vision, he has been turned into a tattering fool who is hoodwinked by the FL and lead by the nose by the ML. He has been robbed of all the political vision and high ideals that he had in the novel. Whereas in the novel his quest for power was motivated by ideals of national unity and peace to put an end to the Emperor’s system of pitting the various factions against each other (with the common people suffering in the endless strife), in the drama he has been saddled with a corrupt family and a murderous mother to make “protecting the family” and personal ambition his highest goals. His best lines, that would reveal some of his tortured and loveless upbringing and go a long way to explain why he became so obsessed with the first female who showed him some kindness, have been deleted from the script to turn him into nothing more than an obnoxious creep for a good part of the story. It very much looks like the scriptwriters couldn’t bear the idea of a strong (and likable) SML for fear that it may throw shadow on their ML. It says a lot about their confidence in their own writing skills and/or the actor’s acting skills when they deem the ML so weak that he needs this kind of help to stand out…

The plot in the early episodes of the drama has become a collection of tit-for-tat between the ML and the SML over trivial things in which the supposedly clever and scheming SML usually runs around like a headless chicken, misses clues, cannot add two and two together and even lands himself in jail. Most of the remaining episodes are filled with similarly pointless squabbles, either between Wei Zhao and his tribe or Pei Yan and his family or between the two male leads. The greater political vision that guided every move of the two male leads in the novel is completely gone. The warfare that made up a large portion of the novel has been reduced to a couple of episodes and is completely devoid of military strategy or the tactical importance of each move.
Even An Cheng’s death, which in the novel is a crucial moment of tactical error and self sacrifice for the protection of a whole city, has been reduced to an idiotic scene of once again bailing out a hapless FL.

In the drama, Wei Zhao is present from the beginning and like a bad penny he seems to turn up in every frame, (lest the audience forget who is supposed to be the one and only hero in the story) turning every scene between Jiang Ci and Pei Yan into some strange threesome.
All the balance, that existed in the novel between two evenly matched adversaries, who the FL first meets separately and who later get together to collaborate, has gone.

Cui Liang seems to have become a totally pointless character who just tags along wherever Pei Yan goes to occasionally give him a meaningful look or remind him to set Jiang Ci free. The importance of this character and his inner conflicts in the unfolding of Pei Yan’s schemes and in the subsequent battles has been completely lost. At that rate, this character could just as well have been deleted (like so many other important characters).

The acting
Ren Jialun delivers a performance that is in line with his usual standards. Watchable and engaging in the parts where he can play the cold avenger, cringy and stiff as soon as complex emotions are required. His scenes with the FL are lukewarm at best and his screen presence clearly suffers as soon as he is in the same frame with one of the veteran actors (the Emperor or Madam Pei).

Li Landi has attracted a lot of criticism (especially for her looks) but I cannot say that I found it justified. She is believable as the innocent and cute girl and cannot be blamed for the inconsistent and annoying writing of her role. Her acting is standard fare for the cutsie romance dramas that she is generally cast in. If she was unable to give some depth to her FL, a big part of the blame must be put on the screenwriters.

Xu Zhengxi shows some very subtle and engaging acting in his emotional scenes and the scenes with his mother in some of the later episodes are a joy to watch. Overall it feels, however, like we’ve only seen a small portion of what he would have been capable of in a better written role. Rumour has it that he only read the script for the first few episodes before accepting the role, and given how much this role has been diminished compared to the novel, this sadly sounds quite believable. At no point in the story is he allowed to fully become the “powerful and scheming minister” that many fans had been hoping for (based on the Pei Yan character in the novel) and too many of his scenes are wasted on fawning over the FL. His fighting scenes are exceptional, though. Unlike many other actors, he doesn’t seem to hold back at all and it is no wonder he got injured on set.

The most impressive performance of the whole drama is without any doubt Wen ZhenRong who plays Madam Pei. Her every scene is an absolute delight to watch and her magnetic aura overshadows many of her co-stars in their scenes together. I would gladly watch 40 episodes with her as a scheming FL…

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Politics, Ruthlessness, Revenge, Romance

This drama is about the male lead who is a commander/court official with a secret identity, and on a mission of revenge. However, his plans get derailed when the female lead arrives at the palace, messing things up and overtly becoming the centre of it all. Amidst all that, the second male lead plays a big part in the story, using the female lead as a pawn for his own selfish reasons.

POSITIVE:
- Ruthless/Cunning male lead. One of the things that made an impression on me is that the male lead was truly ruthless, stabbing and killing everyone in his path, including the female lead and innocent people. However, his character does abruptly shift from red to kind of green flag after episode 10.
- Political/revenge focused plot.
- Romance as sub-plot.
- Morally grey characters.
- Intense emotional scenes. I definitely give this drama props for creating angsty and cry worthy scenes, thanks to the plot build up and great actor’s performance.
- Love triangle. At the start I loved the triangle here as both males felt equal in terms of being charming, smart and cunning + sharing equal screen time. But later the second male lead became a cliche which kind of ruined it for me (check negative points).
- Realistic and mature script. The struggles of ordinary people of that time period were portrayed very well as well as the court dynamics. We get to see real, greedy characters who do evil things for selfish reasons in a very broken society, as well as toxic family relationships.
- Cat and Mouse game (mostly in the first half).
- Hot male leads. I loved Ren Jia Lun’s badass demeanour with his sexy voice (although dubbed) and cool mask, as well as Jeremy Tsui (first time seeing him) charming attitude and intense stares.
- Fantastic final episode that wraps up the story well and ties up all loose ends.
- Lovely OST.

NEGATIVE:
- Romance issue. First off, the first 10 episodes show the male lead excessively harassing, abusing, stabbing, and waterboarding the female lead to the brink of death. This definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. I didn’t mind it though. In fact I liked seeing true enemies into play. However my issue is the abrupt transition between the enemies to lovers part. As enemies they were brilliant. As lovers, they were cute and endearing. But the middle part was butchered. After all the horrible abuse the female lead goes through, she just tells the male lead that she understands him and puts everything behind just like that. Next episodes we see her cooking for him, tending his wounds, massaging him, admiring his handsome face etc. which was cute but totally bizarre. In fact, a viewer commented “I feel like I’m being gaslighted by the writers and the abuse never happened”, and that’s exactly how it felt like because no matter how forgiving a person is, I won’t expect them to want to take care of the man who made them suffer for so long. She tells him “you hurt me three times but also saved me three times, we are even now”. No girl, I mean no writers, it doesn’t work like that. The shift of her starting to fall for him should have been gradual. So, no matter how cute their romance was in the later episodes, in the back of my mind it always felt a bit off.

- Plot issue. I do enjoy political cdramas and this one started very strong, with realistic and dark topics portrayed. But I felt the second half was a let down as it included draggy and boring investigations and war that I didn’t care about. It would have been better if the plot only focused on the male lead’s revenge.

- Second male lead issue. He started off great, as mentioned above, he felt like a main male lead too, charming, cunning, with equal screen time. However in the second half, the writers made him the typical and boring obsessively-in-love-with-female-lead-unrequited love type. This obsession was not only the cliches of the cliches but totally butchered his alluring character and was just used as a plot device more than anything else. In the end, he does realise his obsession is wrong so I guess I’ll give the writers one point for that but still… I wish they were more creative than that.

- Female lead issues. I felt her character was quite lacking in comparison to the two males. She was sometimes smart and resourceful but other times dumb and damsel in distress. I didn’t really mind her but she never stood out to me as a powerful and charismatic female lead. Her backstory and identity was kind of boring to watch, and her relationship with her Master/shifu was extremely underwhelming.

OVERALL:
This drama started strong but lost me in the second half. The characters, the plot, the romance had a lot of potential as they felt fresh and different from other cdramas. But then the writers decided to abruptly shift things (ML from red to green flag + from toxic to cutesy romance), add cliches (SML obsessive love) and drag out unnecessary plot parts in the second half (investigations and wars instead of ML’s revenge) which lowered the value and enjoyment for me. Despite all the negative things I’ve said above, overall I still feel the production of this drama is good, the script too and the actors’ performance really brought the whole story to life. If you like politics with subtle romance + dark characters and themes, you may want to try this out.

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Shattered Dreams, Forged Alliances, Unyielding Love.

Overview of Plot:-

"Love of Nirvana" tells the story of Xiao Wu Xia, the young lord of Yueluo City, who spends years in hiding in Liang Kingdom, bearing humiliation and disguising himself as Wei Zhao. Driven by a quest for truth and justice, Wei Zhao seeks to capture the sole survivor of his family's downfall. However, his plan is foiled by Jiang Ci's unexpected arrival, throwing a wrench into his carefully laid plans. Pei Yan seizes the opportunity to shelter the injured Jiang Ci, aiming to uncover the hidden saboteur. As Wei Zhao and Jiang Ci interact, their shared experiences and values spark mutual affection. Ultimately, the trio - Wei Zhao, Jiang Ci, and Pei Yan - put aside personal vendettas and unite against Emperor Liang, fighting to protect Yueluo and establish a just dynasty.

Introduction to Key Characters:-

Wei Zhao/Xiao Wu Xia (Ren Jia Lun):- The former young lord of Yueluo City, now the infamous Commander of the Dawn Guards of Liang State, is a cunning and ruthless man seeking revenge for his family's unjust downfall and striving to uncover the truth behind their wrongful label as 'traitors.' He walks a thin line between loyalty and betrayal, eliminating anyone who stands in his way. The weight of countless broken families in Yueluo City, forced to send their loved ones into slavery in Liang State as penalty for Prince Ci's death, rests heavily on his shoulders.

Jiang Ci (Li Landy):- Jiang Ci is a free-spirited, kind, and intelligent girl. Raised by her master in a remote mountain village far from the capital city, she grew up in peaceful solitude as an orphan. Her master, living with her identity hidden, is the most wanted assassin and suspected mastermind of Prince Ci's demise, relentlessly pursued by the Emperor of Liang State, Wei Zhao, and the powerful Pei Clan. Jiang Ci wears her heart on her sleeve, often to her own detriment. With expertise in herbs and medicine, she dreams of traveling the world unrestricted.

Pei Yan (Jeremy Tsui):- Leading the Pei Clan in the royal court, Lord of Jingding, a title passed down from his father, he wields significant influence. Equally cunning as Wei Zhao, he was groomed from a young age to put the interests of the Pei Clan first in all his decisions. He is renowned for his benevolence and military prowess among the public, but beneath the surface lies a complex web of motivations.

My Views:-

The drama kicks off with an engaging plot, featuring a cunning and ruthless male lead and his equally formidable rival, the second male lead. Both are adept in manipulation and combat skills, holding influential positions in court. One is feared by the people, while the other is renowned for his benevolence. The drama was engaging, with their schemes against each other captivating until around episodes 10-12, but then it started to drag and get back on track in the last 10 episodes.

In their games of cat and mouse, it's always one winner and one loser, but it doesn't necessarily mean that only the male lead wins every time. Whoever loses pays a hefty price for their loss, and sometimes the price is the people they care for which actually made it more realistic and relatable.

In terms of romance tropes, it's an enemy-to-lovers storyline and a slow-burn, which is expected from Ren Jia Lun's dramas. Jiang Ci is introduced as a carefree and intelligent girl who has an unpleasant first meeting with the male lead Wei Zhao, one that nearly costs her her life. However, it's just the beginning. Saved by Pei Yan to serve his purposes, the danger to her life doesn't end; it's just started. She became the only witness to an assassination attempt, and her life is entangled between the two leads. She wants to leave and fly away from both of them, but she wasn't able.

Though intelligent, Jiang Ci is too trusting of Pei Yan and allows him to manipulate her. The interactions between Jiang Ci and Wei Zhao in the initial episodes are authentic enemies. However, their feelings shift abruptly. The ruthless Wei Zhao suddenly softens for her while she keeps messing with his plans, and Jiang Ci suddenly starts to understand and develops a soft spot for Wei Zhao, whom she even tried to kill a few episodes back. This abrupt change between them feels off initially, but as time passes and they interact more, I grew accustomed to it and started rooting for them.

I didn't like the writer's turn on Pei Yan, transforming him from a cunning and meticulous individual into a typical obsessive second male lead. However, the writers redeemed this by having him recognize and overcome his obsession.

The drama fearlessly tackles dark themes, including slavery and the ruthless pursuit of power. The lives of commoners become mere pawns in the games of the ambitious, who disregard the well-being of others. This thought-provoking exploration of politics and social injustice kept me utterly engrossed. A few scenes border on melodrama, but the overall tone remains balanced, walking a fine line between tension and emotional depth.

The cast delivers outstanding performances, masterfully conveying intense emotions that drew me deeply into the story. Their portrayals bring characters to life and evoked strong feelings, from tears to outrage, as I witnessed the characters' struggles against injustice. Ren Jia Lun shines as Wei Zhao/Xiao Wu Xia, masterfully conveying the complexity of his character's emotions. His portrayal effortlessly switches between ruthless determination and vulnerable introspection. Though it's my first time seeing her, Li Landy's portrayal of Jiang Ci is equally impressive, capturing her free-spirited nature and inner strength. Her chemistry with Ren Jia Lun is quite good.

The soundtracks are a highlight, with beautifully poignant scores that resonated deeply with me. The beautifully crafted scores perfectly complement each scene, elevating the tension, joy, and heartbreak. From haunting melodies to rousing battle themes, the OSTs masterfully amplify the emotional resonance. They've earned a permanent spot on my favorite playlist, serving as a reminder of the drama's unforgettable moments. My favourites are:
1. Far Away (by He Jie and Wang Yuexin)
2. Do Not (by Wang Heye)
3. Oath (by Curley Gao)

The costumes are stunning, clearly benefiting from a generous budget. The tribal outfits of Yueluo are particularly striking, complemented by exquisite hairstyling.

The action scenes in are meticulously choreographed, showcasing a perfect blend of elegance and intensity. The fight sequences are visually stunning, with each move precisely executed to convey the characters' skills and emotions. The action scenes are not just visually impressive but also emotionally charged, reflecting the characters' motivations and conflicts.

Tissue Alert! The ending is a tearjerker.

Conclusion:-

In conclusion, "Love of Nirvana" is a solid historical drama that explores complex themes and features standout performances. It stumbles mid-series and the finale's emotional payoff left me wanting more. The stunning costumes, memorable soundtracks, and well-choreographed action scenes make it a worthwhile watch. Those interested in stories of power, loyalty, and redemption will find "Love of Nirvana" an enjoyable, if imperfect, viewing experience.

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─ Beautiful things are often like this; ephemeral, unapproachable and indistinguishable.

Love of Nirvana wasn’t on my watchlist initially, but it quickly captured my attention after I stumbled upon intriguing spoilers on social media. What really drew me in was the famous scene from EP9 that showcased the dynamics between the leads.

As I enjoy watching the enemies-to-lovers trope, I appreciated how Love of Nirvana presented characters who genuinely start as adversaries and gradually learn to understand each other. It was refreshing to see their perspectives; the time they took to witness each other's lives made their eventual feelings believable and earned.

Some viewers might find Wei Zhao to be cruel and ruthless, but understanding his backstory and the immense pressure he faces helps clarify his initial attitude towards Jiang Ci, especially after she disrupts his crucial plans. Jiang Ci, on the other hand, is portrayed as resilient, maintaining her composure in the face of adversity, though it’s poignant to watch her vulnerability surface after a significant loss. Their flaws and strengths add depth to their characters, making their journey engaging.

I particularly enjoyed the cat references that both characters naturally acknowledged; these moments added a lighthearted touch. Also, since cats are believed to symbolize balance ( like yin and yang ), and even have been seen as spiritual guardians in some places, the reference matched the characters so well.

Watching them collaborate was a highlight, especially when Wei Zhao recognized Jiang Ci’s strengths. The scene where he bowed to her for saving his people was beautifully executed, symbolizing the respect he developed over time.

The chemistry between the leads was compelling, enhanced not just through their interactions but also through their individual arcs. The side characters were well-crafted as well, each bringing their own loyalty and obsession to the story. I found Yueluo’s arc especially captivating, with its constant character and story development ─ so I was actually glad to see them return there towards the finale.

After their return to the palace, the pacing slowed a bit, but the last few episodes till the finale picked up the pacing once again ─ although it ended with tragedy and left us with bittersweet feelings. Part of me thinks it fitted the whole storyline while the other part expected a happy ending.

The OST was another highlight; each song complemented the scenes perfectly, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

In conclusion, I recommend Love of Nirvana for its storytelling, characters ( and their dynamics ), beautiful OST and cinematography!

Link to edits: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxplWeBw3y5gFVgHNC1_31EcNdD5m1d63&si=5HzX9p7wU1NO619Y

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Typical Drama but entertaining at some level!

The story follows the love and conflicts among the three main characters: Xiao Wu Xia, Jiang Ci and Pei Yan. Xiao Wu Xia, a lord of Yuelou, has infiltrated the Liang royal court under the name Wei Zhao. His purpose is to uncover the truth behind his clan’s downfall. Pei Yan, the marquis in Liang Kingdom, carries the mission to revive his family’s former glory. Finally, Jiang Ci, a kind-hearted and freedom loving girl, whose fate changes forever after she encounters Wei Zhao and Pei Yan. In the end, for the greater good, the trio set aside their differences and join hands in the battlefield.

Although the show is adapted from a novel, the plot is not particularly well written. One can argue that the author approved of the changes. However, it does not justify the unnatural flow of the story. Many viewers can clearly see the efforts to put the male lead on a pedestal. It is understandable that the male lead, Xiao Wu Xia/Wei Zhao, is described as dashing, smart and caring. After all, he is our handsome and wise hero! But to highlight these qualities, the plot writers sacrifice the second male lead, Pei Yan. The marquis Pei Yan is reduced to the fool, who is hopeless in investigating anything related to Wei Zhao. Unfortunately, outsmarting a fool does not make a person look smart! Furthermore, there is almost no justification for Pei Yan’s obsession with Jiang Ci. Is it a quick way to increase Pei Yan’s screen time? And we should not forget our heroine, Jiang Ci, who at the beginning of the series is shivering every time she is near Wei Zhao. But somehow in her inner dialogue, she sounds as if she is fond of him! Although one can attribute this fault to dubbing and translation, it is still something the production team should have anticipated. Overall, the show carries certain entertainment value; but with logical flaws and plot holes, the story is proven to be that typical idol drama many of us once enjoyed!

In terms of acting, supporting actors and actresses have done a good job! But my focus is the three main leads! Jeremy Tsui has acted as the second male lead in many shows. By now, he has mastered the arts of being the villain, who is nonsensically obsessed with the female lead! In many scenes in Love of Nirvana, he is able to express his feelings and emotion entirely with his eyes, which is not an easy task! Generally, his performance is satisfying! As for Allen Ren, who is undeniably the biggest star in the series, it is another story! Earlier in his career, he was crowned “the prince of tears” for his emotional characters. Unfortunately, in recent years, his performance has not been up to bar. I applaud his effort to step out of his comfort zone, using his own voice in Burning Flame or trying out a multidimensional character in Love of Nirvana. Perhaps he will follow Yang Mi’s footsteps and will consider attending an acting class in the future! Finally, the least impressive person to me is Li Landi. She can totally be the cute, young and naïve girl. But she is not able to deliver the “freedom loving” aspect of Jiang Ci. This quality is essential to the female lead character. It helps to explain why Jiang Ci will never fall for Pei Yan. Her love for Xiao Wu Xia also presents her love for independence and freedom. However, Li Landi shows her potential and hopefully she will shine in her next project.

In the end, if you are a fan of those actors and the actress, by all means, please watch the show to support them! Repeat if necessary. But if you are someone who looks for a good script or who is a fan of the novel, you may find your time more beneficial somewhere else!

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If I wanted to be devastated, I'd watch the news.

==Breakdown==
Background plot / palace intrigue - 60%
Romance - 30%
Random comedy - 10%

Background plot - Fine
Romantic chemistry - Good
Misc comedy - Fine
Production value and direction - Good

Keeping it short, but the ending ruined the whole show. I was warned not to watch Ren Jia Lun's dramas, but this one looked interesting. And, yeah, I won't be watching any more of his shows.
He's EXCELLENT by the way. I mean, he is an incredible actor and so, so good in his role. Mesmerizing. But I don't have the emotional bandwidth to be devastated by something that's supposed to be escapist and entertaining. If I wanted to be devastated, I'd watch the news.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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The drama is the title... 流水迢迢

I just want to say... this is a very beautiful drama. There are just so much depth to these characters and they have such great love for their country and people. Everyone might have gone separate ends at the end, but they are all doing their parts to continue to protect their country and people. I just love our characters so much.

Jiang Ci... our carefree girl who came down the mountains, experienced the greatest pain yet also met her greatest love. She is just like her name, kind and benevolent. And she will continue to live on and live on well, for the ones who have protected and risked her lives for her. She will live on for them and save those who need saving.

Wei Zhao... born as the son of the city lord of a land trapped between two great states, his fate was already sealed since then. But he met friends/comrades who fought by his side, people who believed in his cause, and he too, met the love of his life who he will watch over forever and forever. In the darkest timeline he lived in, he managed to strike a ray of hope at the end.

Pei Yan... he who didn't know how to love properly due to his upbringing. Raised to protect his family only but grown to desire to protect the country and common people. He too learned that the way to love isn't only to cage someone, but to let them go. He might never get what his heart truly desires, but he will be able to protect the country that his loved ones live in.

Thank you for this beautiful story and to our supporting characters too who each had their own arc and path in life.

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WELCOME TO NIRVANA!!!!

Tbh this show was amazing! I feel like the mission was accomplished though not in the way everybody wanted but think about it. What I understood from this drama is that every character was yearning for their own version of Nirvana but it will cost you something that you hold dear. From the beginning that is 20 years ago, both the brothers wanted something but fate would not allow them to get what they wished for. The Emperor wanted his father's love and acknowledgement but at what cost? His nirvana was his father's love and getting the throne was his wicked way of having something common with his dad on the other hand, Prince Qi wanted to live like a commoner but at what cost? Pei Yan's mother wanted power so bad but at what cost? Pei Yan wanted Jiang Ci's love in his wicked obsessive way but at what cost? Jiang Ci's kind of nirvana was to be free and roam around the world but it sadly later cost her so much loss and my guy Xiao Wuxia, (may you rest in peace) wanted to free his people from slavery and clear his father's name not knowing that his enemy is the Emperor. I feel like my guy won; the people of Yueluo were freed, Jiang Ci is free doing whatever she wants and got to the truth that he most wanted...THIS WAS HIS NIRVANA! In my opinion, it's not a sad ending but a realistic ending. Just think about it...What would have happened to Jiang Ci if the emperor or Xiao Wuxia stepped out of that temple alive? What of Yueluo people? This was a well played match...CHECKMATE EMPEROR!!!

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Excellent, phenomenal and intense drama!!

To start off with,this drama has a solid plot.The screen play is very intense,grippy and there is not even a bit of nonsense till the end.
The pace is very good and the cat-mouse games between the 3 leads is really interesting.
Ren Jialun as Wei Zhao,is excellent in portraying his role.Being a smart,cunning,complex man with many mysteries,yet has many emotions.He is phenomenal in his acting.
Li Landi as Jiang Ci,is a smart,naive,decisive yet kind girl from Jiang village who comes to capital and gets herself involved in the midst of ongoing political tensions.She is very good in her acting.
Jeremy Tsui,as Pei Yan,is smart,intelligent,cunning,stubborn and yet becomes a reliable friend who stands for Wei Zhao in difficult times.His acting was excellent.
All the characters have their own goals,personalities,and are very complex and are written perfectly.
The sets, costumes,production,locations,screenplay,plot,twists and turns,everything is good.
The last episodes were too good.Thefriendship of 3 of them was very nice.I liked the way they supported each other in difficult times keeping aside their grievances.The emotions were beautifully portrayed.The characters development is Excellent.The war and action scenes were excellent.
Overall,I would like to describe this drama in one word-excellent and phenomenal!!

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