Nirvana in Fire (2015)

Spectacular! Nirvana in Fire has set the new bar for drama series!

As a good [limited] movie and drama series fan, I find myself fond of quality of story, plot-line, casting & acting, and of course all supporting elements for the quality such as the production detail such as costumes, music, culture, exterior/interior design., etc.

Nirvana in Fire is a very rare gem I found years after it first airing in 2015.
A story about classic politic intrigue & battle of wits with minor touch of action, all blended with a superb directing.
What makes the story very attractive is 'mission of the mission' presented in well-balanced pace by the main character played superbly by Hu Ge and perfected by all supporting actors/actresses. Yes! I wrote all actors/actresses, they are just brilliant and really animated their roles.

In watching drama series, sometimes I could skip a few episodes or even a season (of many) due to the dragging story or the plot suddenly seems irrelevant, lost the way or the twist was just 'too twisted' which makes the early 'nice flavor' become sour or tasteless. Nirvana in Fire is way beyond those substandard series. In Nirvana in Fire, almost each episode treat us with something new and interesting surprises plot. There is no unnecessary scene, no teenager puppy-love and no unnecessary acting. No nonsense!
All aspects of the movie, even just a minor supplement touch scene really suited and enriched the story, really smooth. The pace is excellent, make me really enjoyed, immersed & excited by this phenomenal drama series.

Last but not least, the soundtrack really represents the soul of the story. It is about everything one's might face and endure in this mortal world of suffering and beauty.

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One of the greatest shows of all time

I almost didn't watch this show because of a few things.

1. Dub. Yes, the whole show is dubbed by the original or other actors. I understand it's because the language is very rich, intricate, and subtle that everything needs to be clear, but at first it almost made me turn it off. I got used to it.

2. First few minutes I thought the setting was going to be in regional and mountain areas but 90% of the show takes place in the capital city of the empire.

3. The exaggerated martial arts. It's actually pretty nice and fun to watch but can take a while to get used to.

4. This is my first Chinese series. It had so many names and locations that at first was hard to keep up with but eventually it was easy.

Now that I got that out of the way:

The show's story is what sets it apart. Layers upon layers and very beautiful setups that make the show work. There's really not much more I can say without giving it away but if you want a nice story with a great plot, this is the show.

The actors and cast. Everyone was excellent and really complemented each other. They'll grow on you.

Overall, I loved the show and although it was 54 episodes, it didn't feel like it dragged on or felt too long or too short. It was just the right amount.

If you have doubts about watching, like I mentioned above, just watch a few more episodes. You'll see how good this show can be.

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It's the best Chinese Drama that I watched

If you watch barely any Chinese dramas but want to try one, then don't wait for more. This drama would always remain at the top of your list & it is not an exaggeration. It is one of those dramas that you always plan to watch but push it back (due to the length) & when you finally sit down to watch, you are left spell bound.

It has all the elements that a viewer wishes to see : An intricately woven story, well written dialogues, spot on acting, beautiful cinematography, lovely landscapes, great themes like loyalty, justice & selfless love.

The drama pulls you effortlessly into itself. All the characters seem real, have their own motivations, values and back stories which are wonderfully executed. I was emotionally invested into more than one character & found myself celebrating, crying for a fictional character after a long time.

There is romance, bromance, mother & child love, friendship, sibling rivalry, political rivalry, the tension in a father & son relationship, and many other aspects of human relationships which are portrayed by the actors with a rich palette of emotions.

The drama has a good pace and flow without any fillers & the ending is near perfect with even the smallest of the nuances tied up brilliantly. Each scene, setting and character costume is breath takingly good.

The chess game between the two sides is interesting to watch & is unfolded layer by layer almost like a blossoming flower. This master piece cannot be justified with mere words. It can only be experienced.

This drama is definitely worth all the hype.

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One of the best dramas I've watched. This drama has a lot of complicated political intrigue and beautiful cinematography, and, importantly, a lot of very smart characters, including plenty of smart women. There was some romance but it paled in comparison to the wonderful heartfelt bromances. And, unlike most Korean dramas, everything wasn’t neatly tied up into one big happy pill, which made Nirvana’s ending much more meaningful and satisfying. I nearly gave up after the first episode because it was confusing with too many characters being introduced too quickly and too briefly (hint: learn their names!) but I’m glad I stuck with it. I would recommend this drama to people who like complex plots and who like to watch smart people behaving intelligently.

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Watched this in 2022 and this drama is not for me

I wanted to watch this drama because of the hype and also because of the director. To be honest , I agree that among many many costume c-dramas, this is one of the good ones given the fact that this is released in 2015. But whether you will like this drama and find it captivating or not depends on what kind of c-dramas you have watched before. For eg., if you had watched Joy of Life before this , you will seriously be bored and disappointed by this drama. On the other hand , if you had watched romance k-dramas/c-drams always and wanted to try a political costume c-drama for the first time , you may feel pretty happy with this.

Another major pain point is, this drama is conversation heavy. Around 80 % of the time, it is just somebody talking about the revenge, plot etc., And the flashback scenes are cut heavily because of Zhang Zhehan's problem in China ( which is really frustrating in my opinion). And the music is not that great or memorable. I felt that the drama is dragged unnecessarily until 54 episodes. it could have been closed at 40.
I thank the team for not bringing romance into this and sticking to revenge political plot.

One of the BIGGEST disappointments for me is, the sequel of this is actually not a real sequel. Nirvana is Fire 2 is actually a different drama just with some links to the past. I expected Fei Lu, Meng, Jingrui, Lin Shu in sequel.. but it didn't happen.

Will I recommend this to you? If you are new to political revenge plots in c-drama world, you can give this a try.
If you had already watched master pieces like Joy of Life or if you don't like too much talking , this is not for you.stay away.

Did I enjoy watching this? Not really.

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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.

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Easily the most intricate drama ever

I'm not sure where to start because I've watched this immediately after it was aired

It 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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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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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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