Fan Xian, what the hell are you?
It was a series that was completely gripping, intriguing, active, exciting, and had high emotional intensity and stress. There was love and there was love. Separations too. Friendship, camaraderie, ambition, grudge, hatred, fight, war, intrigue, espionage activities, groupings, desires for advancement, fights for the throne, they were all there. There was also a humorous narration. Zhang Ruo Yun is an actor who is very prone to comedy. He is an actor who can perform casualness, humorous approaches and lively expressions very well. This role suits him very well. That's why Tian Yu and Guo Qi Lin, with whom he was in a relationship, accompanied his joke beautifully. We can even add Liu Duan Duan. There were plenty of humorous jokes in the series. Even though he tried to frame her in the end and we learned that he was actually the one behind trying to kill her, the relationship level was humorous. Same with Xin Zi Lei. We can also count Cui Zi Gang and Jia Jing Hui. These always seemed to me to be related in a fun, humorous way. That's why I never got bored while watching it. In fact, it ended very badly. It was an intriguing ending to the next season. I'm looking forward to the second season. I expected Yan Bing Yun to do something like this. Because the more open Fan Xian was to him, the more closed he remained. He didn't even openly claim the woman he was in a relationship with, he was dying for her. He didn't mind. Even though he knew the Spy Names, he did not give them. He constantly evaded every question. Just as he did not trust himself, he did not trust the other person either. I was guessing that he was not on the road, but when they arrived at the relevant office, he would do a trick, make speeches against Fan Xian, give information, and say things against him. But he dealt the fatal blow. He found an excuse for himself by saying he was doing this for Qing. It's as if others are doing it for another state. This means that this person was also one of the 2nd Prince's men. He was working for that group. Let's see what will happen in the second season. I am waiting. I liked the first season very much. I would recommend it to everyone.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I was biased, when I first saw the name of the drama Joy of life I thought it was some boring drama, I like Chinese costume dramas some of them were good and interesting to watch, so I decided to give it a try last year and started, and I was really shocked to find the show turned out far better than expected never watched something like this, male lead is shown weak when the story starts, but he is very smart, and he is living a protected life, and he decides to leave there.I am writing this review from my memory, so after a rewatch will update it more.
Things I liked about this show, story is very interesting it never gets boring have lots of twist and turns, great cast and better acting good background music, interesting characters, my favourite scene was when male lead meets the emperor, and he talks about poetry and that he know about things from another world when he is challenged by a master there he starts reciting the poetry that scene is excellent and well performed by male lead, this show was the place he could show his acting talent, don't if any other actor could have done this better.
I liked his relationship with his sister and scenes with them together, the female lead sadly at least in season 1 has nothing big to do other than being love interest of the male lead.
Best part is that unlike most c dramas, this one doesn't waste time dragging the story adding unnecessary scenes etc even if viewer might feel the story world is dark and danger is hiding in every corner and death can happen any time the show don't turn depressing they don't waste time focusing more on bad guys winning or making male lead weak, male lead faces challenges and viewers might feel he might lose, but he uses his wits to overcome crisis.
Interesting part is male lead has better chemistry with Saintess Duo Duo than female lead, also liked the interactions with Si Li Li.
This show is one of the best costume dramas I have watched, along with Sword Snow Stride, both of them are must watch for fans of wuxia/fantasy/martial arts genre.
I heard it's a Trilogy and season 2 is not here yet, I might just read the novel.
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Offbeat and witty, but tight and well executed plot
This was one of the best dramas I have ever watched (and at this current point in time, my highest rated). I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did but once I had reached episode 10, I binge-watched the rest of the episodes in five days.The plot is fascinating and keeps you guessing and almost all characters are likeable, intelligent and memorable with realistic motivations. Protagonists and antagonists are not black or white and it is easy to feel sympathy for the villains at certain times. In one case I almost had to go back to remind myself why I disliked the character so much in the first place! Emotional moments in the show were well expressed and easily touched the viewer. I loved how Fan Xian was supported and guided by many of his seniors as father-figures, which is a great contrast to so many other dramas I have seen where the MC has an excessive amount of adversaries. Because of this, it feels logical that Fan Xian was able to emerge unscathed in so many situations (although I presume that stakes will be much higher in future seasons).
Visually, the fight scenes were beautifully choreographed and edited, making it impossible for the viewer to tear their eyes away from the screen, lest they miss any of the fast-paced action. Also, whilst Fan Xian was presented as a great fighter, I liked that he was definitely not “the best”, as there were plenty of other stronger characters in the show.
A point of contention between viewers is the music. Personally, the score worked very well for me and it complemented the quirky sci-fi aspect of the show. The music that interjected some fight scenes was hilarious. The opening and ending songs were also beautiful, and extremely hard to skip even after 40 episodes!
A downside for me was an irritating misunderstanding in the early episodes between Fan Xian and Wan'er. The romance between them was not to my taste (especially as I am not a fan of love at first sight romances). I much preferred the chemistry between Fan Xian and other female characters. Hopefully season 2 will be able to flesh out the character of Wan’er if she is going to continue as the FL.
I also think it is quite unfortunate that as a non-Mandarin speaker, some of the language-use and puns are lost on me, which English subtitles just do not capture perfectly. In particular, a certain poetry scene would probably have been a LOT more impressive if I could understand the intricacies of the language.
Overall, an almost flawless drama with a very tight plot. A definite must-watch!
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Story: When I first watched this drama, I was slowly wondering where this drama would go as I did not read the synopsis or anything about it. I came for Zhang Ruo Yan (ZRY) lol. However, as I kept watching, I found myself to be wanting more. There were so many twists and turns and suspense but every surprise made sense and you can't help but wonder how FX is going to deal with the surprises. The ending is a cliffhanger but it's not a bad cliffhanger because you start to wonder why it happened and you start to predict what would season 2 bring.
Cast: ZRY never disappoints and he was perfect in this drama. If we look at just his character as FX, FX is a main character that never gets on your nerves because he's not too good but he's not too perfect. He's funny, brave, smart, witty, and all of the above. It was very refreshing to see a protagonist like him out of all the protagonists that I've seen before. As for Wan'er, I actually really like her character and don't think she's boring at all. I think it's because FX left too soon so we don't get to see how Wan'er could help him or be more "important". I know a lot of people ship FX with Duo Duo but I see them more as best friends or at best siblings as they are too alike. I actually really like him w/ Wan'er because she's not apart of the drama but FX is willing to explain to her and tell her the truth which is something I rarely see in couples in dramas lol. Xin Zhi Lei nailed Duo Duo and I freaking love her lol she's entertaining. I love CPP and the emperor and I will fight the director if they do not reclaim their roles in the next 2 seasons lol .
Cinematography: The scenes were beautiful and I love the fight scenes as it looked real and cool :)
Overall: This drama took my breath away. I am having withdraw symptoms as I am writing this. I can't wait for season 2 especially after the ending of this season. I highly recommend this drama as it's different and the fact that they planned for 3 seasons, it has rarely happened in the Chinese drama industry so I know there must be a wonderful plot coming up. I really am looking forward to season 2 and 3 and honestly I would rewatch this season again bc it's just that good.
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Just WOW
I have nothing to say. This drama is WOW. The characters are so wise and clever which makes it more interesting to watch. I never got bored with it. This drama keeps your mind thinking about stuff that just doesn't seem to fit in.The ending.... Ugh!! I did not expect it. One from my fav characters in the drama turned out be an effin' hypocrite!!! I was also fooled by him! I want him dead!!
I hope the 2nd season can be released faster and wish to still see Xiao Zhan in it.
I hope they don't change the actors for the 2nd season. I'd like to see them all again. The 1st really amazed me. I can't wait!
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I thought this drama was some kind of traditional Wu Xia drama with intrigues in the palace. No this drama is a very special kind of drama in the setting of the plot, the characters, how the events and story develop. The drama is very intelligent and coherent with different layers of times and places which relate to each other in a logical and scientific way as in "science fiction". Many people speak of time travel but there is no time travel here. It is more complex than time travel. It is real science fiction with its themes and ideas describing a vision of humanity and it's future.STORY:
The story is very interesting and is about a child saved by a man from a dangerous situation and he is raised in the "countryside" and then called to the Capital city to discover it's true identity and fulfill his destiny. Using this storyline, the drama presents numerous and interesting, colorful flamboyant characters. These are very well depicted in different and effective ways (they speak, they act, people talk about them, people act for or against them, they are mentioned...) and they have quickly a huge dimension and impact even for a few scenes or episodes only.
So our hero evolves in this ruthless word of struggle for powers while he is just trying to find his origin. But he is up to par and even better. He is smart, handsome, funny, charming, cunning, cheeky to find his way out of traps and attacks against him. Like in a folktale, he falls in love at first sight with a beautiful damzel but he must go though different quests given to him as challenges but has one sometimes two great sidekick with him to help him. He visits different places. He meets people. Great, funny, helpful people with their unique colorful identity and impact in his life. Dark, mysterious, cunning adversaries who are in a fight for power using schemes but not in a way which leads the viewers but it in a way which entertains the viewers. Fan Xian fights them with smart words, swords, schemes, humor, playfulness and his beliefs in life. In the end he comes back almost home with a better knowledge about his origins. The story is a great mix of adventures, political schemes, palace plots, humour, friendship, romance, action.
CAST/CHARACTERS:
It was my first drama with Zhang Ruo Yun. He was perfect for the role. He was Fan Xian with his natural charm and his innocent but cunning boy looking face. I was impressed by the senior actors. Chen Dao Ming, Wu gang, Gao Shu Gang. Sometime lenient fatherly figures. Sometimes cunning opponent and challenging adversity for Fan Xian. The rest of the cast were great even in minor role they did the most to be sympathetic or hateful or both. Specially: Song Yi as a daring supporting sister RuoRuo, Xin Zhi Lei as DuoDuo in between best female friend and lover, Tian Yu as Wang Qinian the multi tool accomplice, Thomas Tong perfectly stiff as hilarious Uncle Wu Zhu, Frida Li as Si Lili a cold spy who falls in love, Wayne Wang as Teng Zi Jing. I also liked Second Prince, guard Yan Xiao Yi, Xiao En, Emperor of Qi, Eunuch Hong, Young Fan Xian and the actors playing them. Overall the cast was just great.
MUSIC:
The original song at the beginning gives a mysterious tone and vibe well adapted to the story and characters in the drama. It quickly became the annunciation of 45 minutes of a good show so I liked it. I thought the music in the drama was fine and well orchestrated between funny scenes, action and scheming scenes.
REWATCH VALUE:
I won't rewatch it entirely but there some great scenes here. All the ones with Fan Xian as kid. The ones with Uncle Wu Zhu. The ones with Guard Yan XiaoYi when he fights Wu Zhu or Fan Xian. Eunuch Hong scenes are great. Very emotional scenes with Teng Zi Jing family.
OVERALL: To tell such a story in this layered world is something unique. This is one of my favorite Chinese drama started in 2019. MUST WATCH. The only bad thing about this drama is now I have to wait to see the next season.
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ML i FL are the worst in this drama
I watched this drama a year ago and it's still difficult for me to judge it. Interesting plot, great acting, visually really good, interesting, original music, but - horribly irritating ML, totally unremarkable FL. It's not the actors' fault, it's the story. The heroes of the second and third plan are wonderful, each has its own interesting story and I want to know as much as possible about each of them, but I wanted to murder ML around the tenth episode and FL - as soon as she appeared. They are boring. She is bland, he has too much opinion of himself and everything comes too easy for him. I would like to throw them both out of the whole story and give it only to the characters of the second and further plans.I have good memories of the humor. I had a lot of fun in places. When it comes to acting - daring in the performance of every actor, even for five minutes. Superb little Fan Xien. Is it worth watching again? Sure, even a few times, although I rewind some scenes. Unfortunately I rewind those with ML and FL.
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I have to stop....
I have to stop watching unfinished drama... huhuhu....After I've watch snow sword stride (SSS) I decided to watch this. I have to say this drama have the same vibe with SSS, or should I say SSS have the same vibe with this one. But while SSS have no cliffhanger when they close the curtain, this was like Princess Agent have a frustrated cliffhanger that makes me want to punch the writer in the face. Yes I know they have the 2nd season on the road, but never I've expected they have the same open ending like princess agent.
Don't know to be cry or excited waiting for the season 2. Because I really don't know will Xiao Zhan ever come back to this drama due to his pack schedule.... While his character rather quite important here, and if they change the actor I don't know what my reaction will be.
So yeah I'll gonna put this drama on hold until the second season aired & I will be able to watch that... & after that I'll gonna rise the score too....
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A good drama with superb acting and characters except for the ML.
My review is more of my rant on the ML who ruins this great drama. I dropped this the first time because I couldn't stand the ML's character. It took me a while to restart it but I persevered this time to finish this one. First of all the ML isn't smart. That would be the last thing I would use to describe him. He had the fortune of being born with knowledge unfamiliar and unknown to the other characters in this drama so I would describe him more as lucky than some once in a century talent. The Zhuge Liang of his era. The drama really tries to portray him as this all knowing persona who has come to enlighten the backward feudalist people yet most of the time he just come off as gullible, arrogant and superficial. The entire first 10 episode is wasted on finding Fried Chicken Girl who ML wants to marry. He literally turned the capital upside down and implicated people so he could break off engagement with someone the emperor picked so he could marry the very beautiful maid wearing expensive gown and jewelry AKA Fried Chicken Girl . *Spoiler alert* Well not really a spoiler. It turns out very beautiful girl wearing expensive gown and jewelry was not a maid but a princess, well duhhh! and was actually his betrothed, even more duhhh! Even a half wit would know that.Was this review helpful to you?
masterpiece
Finally, Nirvana in Fire has a contender to stand at the top of the costume political drama haha.story: very epic, all connected, fun, light, no plot holes
Music: I love it. I always watch Opening OST over and over again, even though at first I heard it was normal. Then the cowboy backsound is so cute haha.
Acting: Zhang Ruo Yun is the core of the success of this drama, his character is very strong, maybe at first we are not sure why he is the main actor, but as the episode progresses, he is very suitable.
Rewatch: Yes, it's a light and funny drama. Don't get bored if you repeat it.
highly recommend this drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
Let me start by tipping my hat off to the writer because what a great story and I wasn't even surprised that we will have season 2 because this was just amazing!!!The story from ep 1 had me fascinated not to mention how handsome Fan Xian is! It was my first time seeing him in a drama and I was not disappointed he is a great actor.
I feel that there is a lot to be said abt the mystery of his mom and how she come to be such a great women and end up with the king no less! I did not see that one coming Fan Xian was a prince!!!
The writer kept us on edge most episodes and although I'm usually a hopeless romantic I for once found myself not concerned about whether his romantic relationship would grow or not, I wanted more on the politics and the suspense. I got goose bumps every tym a secret was revealed or a plot was discovered like wow I didn't see that coming.
All the actors did a great job, I mean that king and the overnight watch, like masterminds. Those guys must be good in chess cause their minds are just amazing.
I have rewatched this 3 times now and I'm still amazed at some of the plots I missed the first time. DEFINITELY A MUST WATCH!!!!!
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WATCH IT PLEASE !!!
After The Untamed I barely liked any other historical drama, as it never lived up to my expectations but this one was a Masterpiece. If you're looking for wuxia, this one for you.Plot and story - Honestly, very well written and crafted plot. It was amazing, there were twists and turns at every point of the story. You would never know who is good and evil. You get surprised at each and every episode. The cliffhangers are mindblowing, I loved it.
Characters and acting - Hats off to writers for writing characters with good development as the plot progressed. Like there are many characters but each one of them will be remembered by you. You get attached to them, But you never know who turns out to be what. Xiao Zhan comes later but he blew my mind with his acting and omg the ending twist, he nailed it. Each and every actor were placed perfectly for their role. I loved the lead, mostly the whole cast impressed me a lot. The lead was adorable not too stiff but witty and funny also enjoyable, He carried the whole drama in his hands.
Pace and Other: Fast-paced but maintained its story. Not lengthy conversation neither too much of backstory. It's like a mystery box that is to open gradually. The romance was the cutest part I loved the lead conversation, Like no shit love triangle and all. I was happy how they trusted and supported each other. It has modern-day essence in it too, so was interesting to watch from that aspect.
I am glad I watched it, it was worth each minute. This is not ending but beginning. It has a second season. More mysteries to be revealed, unanswered questions, characters turning point, Problems to be solved. It's a long journey to finally decide who's gonna win the game. I'm excited a lot. It would've been good if they made Legend of fei like this, instead it became a mess. This is what a wuxia drama is. I knew Xiao Zhan would not disappoint me (I loved wolf too). Anyway, let's be patient in this waiting game.
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