Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
Mental health warning: if you are prone to depression do not watch this drama. It is relentlessly depressing and could win any competition for most tragic, angst ridden character ever. Despite the lack of balance in the mood and other flaws, the acting is fantastic and there are many stunning and unique aspects to this drama that make it worth watching. This drama literally transports you to an elegant pavilion surrounded by breathtaking landscape to admire the majestic grace and radiance of a pair of courting cranes... only to have them swoop down and poop all over you. You should stop reading here if you want to avoid mild spoilers - it is impossible to meaningfully review this without any.The biggest issue with this drama is that it is not accessible. The plot is heavy with political intrigue and revels in ambiguity. This leaves many things open for analysis and discussion. Nothing and nobody is as they initially appear. The plot twists are intricate and the devil is in details that don't always lend themselves well to film adaptation. To dial up the suspense, key segments of footage is omitted and played back later to reveal the plot. Multiple re-watches are needed to understand the subtleties of each twist. The subtitles appear to be decent but don't do justice to more detailed subplots or the overall beauty of the prose. This is one where good subtitles would be worth waiting for. [Update Feb 2023: Good subtitles are now finally available for this on Youku International. They are vastly superior to previous ones so try to watch this on Youku.]
This story is adapted from a well-acclaimed novel about a tragic prince who is beset with treachery at every turn. Plotting and conspiracies are afoot as court officials advance their own agendas amidst the power struggle between crown prince Xiao Dingquan (Luo Jin) and his brother from another mother Prince Qi (Jin Han). The emperor (Huang Zhi Zhong) blatantly favors his first born Prince Qi over his heir Dingquan, who is perpetually in danger of being deposed by his own father. The emperor holds Dingquan to a higher standard; he must be groomed to hold on to the throne and carry on his legacy. Dingquan is hurt and bewildered by his father's favoritism and longs to be treated at least equally. He doesn't see that as the crown prince, he is already the most dear. The emperor presides over a corrupt court and depends on powerful generals to secure the kingdom's borders. He maintains his grip on power by pitting powerful ministers and generals against one another and does not allow sentiment or moral scruple to upset the balance of power in the court. Even his best loved sons have to be pawns in this merciless game of thrones. He finds Dingquan's morality and sentimental attachments at best naive and inconvenient; and at worst incompatible with the power dynamics and political realities of the court. He dislikes his son's frequent appeal to their relationship and his affection to get his way rather than winning on the merits of the situation. Their relationship is complicated by Dingquan's close relationship with his maternal uncle General Gu Silin whose military might is a source of discomfort and paranoia for the emperor.
The father-son relationship is the most significant, riveting relationship in the drama. Luo Jin visibly takes his acting up another notch in his portrayal of the lonely prince who demands his father's affection and approval even as he unflinchingly opposes him to protect his values and those dear to him. He was a bit too generous with the waterworks and indubitably has yet to master Hu Ge's ability to make his audience sob uncontrollably without shedding a single tear. Nonetheless Dingquan's struggle to stay true to himself as he is pushed to make painful choices for political expedience is compelling and gut wrenching. It is however, Huang Zhi Zhong's emperor that steals the show. He is first emperor and then a father caught between two sons that he loves in very different ways. His cold and ruthless public exterior masks his private pain every time he is forced to deal harshly with Dingquan, whom he distrusts but is actually the son that can hurt him the most. He is a cynical old soul who is disdainful of but yet also reluctantly admires his son's idealism and moral conviction. The emperor was masterfully portrayed and is able to evoke complex and multifaceted emotions including anger, empathy and pity. The conflicts that unfold show us that neither is ever completely right or wrong they just have different world views and priorities.
The second important relationship in the drama is the love story between Wenxi/Gu A'bao (Li Yi Tong) and Dingquan. The chemistry between the two leads is delightful and one of the reasons I stuck with this drama. The way the storyline unfolds and the writing however does not do justice to this wonderful pairing. In the novel (which I did not read) Dingquan never meets Wenxi, he only knows her as Gu A'bao. In the drama, Dingquan has several encounters with Wenxi before she steals into the palace disguised as a maid. Although he never fully sees her face, it is clear that they are soulmates and they fall in love. Forced to go separate ways, in their last encounter Wenxi approaches him in the palace dressed as a maid. Shortly thereafter, he meets Gu A'bao the maid with whom he continues to communicate in sophisticated allegory and metaphor but we are supposed to believe he doesn't recognize her! It is manifestly obvious that she is educated beyond even highborn ladies like the crown princess. This inexplicable and pointless faithfulness to the novel (after departing from it so significantly) is most likely just sheer laziness. They had the OTP meet early on to make it more romantically appealing but didn't bother to make further conforming changes to the plot.
Had they more logically carried this change through the plot, with some small modifications, they could have set the story up for a huge, far more relate-able and captivating plot twist, one that works much better in a drama instead of getting mired down in dry and detailed twists that work better in a book. I was already half convinced that at some point Dingquan figured out who she was and they were working together - this resonates from their body language and the way they communicate with each other. Considering the mental masturbation that went into the trivial question of whether the two male leads in the Untamed were lovers, imagine the speculative interest that would have gone into analyzing when Dingquan figured out Gu A'bao was Wenxi and when they started working together.. Instead they dragged out the reunion and settled for a far less memorable, crowd pleasing moment of truth devoid of the drama's signature ambiguity. This would also better explain some of the extreme lengths he goes to to protect Gu A'bao and make some of her motives and decisions more logical but those are small points. I just sigh for the big opportunity missed!
There was excessive plotting and too many betrayals in this drama. Censorship and deteriorating writing in the middle made some sub-plots confusing and less logical. The villains in this drama are complex grey characters with families and relationships that cast them in a somewhat sympathetic light. They are also way too smart, to the extent that each of Dingquan's few hard won victories cost him an arm and a leg. While there is some character progression and growth, Dingquan is too emotional and does not learn from his mistakes. As a result of repeated defeats, crushing personal losses, and an increasing sense of isolation the character regresses and starts to exhibit his father's capacity for cruelty and abuse. I did not like where they went with this and the way he treats the female lead is something that did not sit well with me. It was also gratuitous and rather pointless unless the writer was trying to make me lose respect for both characters. Which is a pity because Lu Wenxi/Gu A'bao is a uniquely interesting character - passive aggressive, bold, stubborn, vengeful, brilliant and indomitable. Li Yi Tong was so incredible in this role I was angry at the writer for diminishing her character into a bit of a lovesick fool in the middle although she finishes strongly.
The ending episode was messy and leads to the (mistaken) conclusion that the ending is open, possibly sad and definitely bad. For all intents and purposes however, the story actually ended at about 26 minutes into the last episode when things come to a full circle for the OTP. At that point, the two important relationships are satisfactorily and realistically resolved and all of the villains get some form of retribution. All of the rest is of footage that relates to a final thread that was shot but not aired due to censorship. This hints at the possibility of a different or open ending; that there is more betrayal and tragedy ahead. However, there was not enough build up of this thread to substantiate any definitive outcome. It should all have just been lumped together with the 3 minute cryptically worded epilogue that suggests the story continues (and may even be released one day). Viewed that way, the ending was good enough.
The twelve episodes that were cut likely closes the remaining loose threads with respect to several characters including Gu Fengen, scholar Xu and the 5th prince. Although the story never builds towards its final denouement, this could be the one time Chinese censors did us a big favor. This writer has no sense of balance and destroys some fantastic tropes and characters by taking them to mind blowing extremes. I have heard how the novel ends and I don't need to be there for a final betrayal that culminates in tragedy. This writer tortures the main protagonist to death with a vindictiveness that suggests the character was inspired by someone who terribly wronged them. I am glad that the censors have forced us to get off the bus at a great place and right before it drives off a cliff.
Despite the resonating sadness, this is still a ravishing production with some truly brilliant acting, moving prose, thought provoking insights, intriguing ambiguities and an acceptable ending. It has some of the most poetic, romantic lines I have come across in a Chinese drama. The real tragedy is that this has all the makings of a masterpiece but it just was not.
Sept 2020 Update: The last 12 episodes (Royal Nirvana Special) are out. It ties up all the remaining loose threads regarding Prince Zhao (5th prince), Gu Fengan and Xu Changping. It is well done with a fitting ending.
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What an emotionally tormenting drama! Great acting!
If I were to describe this drama in one word, it would be "INTENSE"; in the simplest form, it would be BITTER, BITTER, BITTER, sweet, BITTER, BITTER, BITTER, sweet - with capitals being strong and lower case being weak. It feels as if after the bitterness and one is given a lollipop, before one can take a second lick of the candy, it's taken away.This is a "heavy" drama in every sense. Every episode is packed full with actions, plots, plots within plots, palace politics, murders, corruption, greed, power, fears, injustices, conspiracies, wars, fights, killings and more. The ugliness of human nature is vividly displayed and it has never receded over the hundred of years to these days. The writers and directors bring out all the ugliness of how power and wealth can corrupt a person, and the story is amazingly told in this wonderful drama. It is indeed disheartening for us to realize that we're still constantly repeating history over and over again, and we never learn.
The drama itself is serious and nerve wrecking. Every life is always on the line. Everyone tries to outwit another, and losers die. All the events are multi layers.
The events unfolding can be difficult to understand particularly if there are no English subtitles and the viewer not a native Mandarin speaker because everything moves fast and the plots are intricate and complicated. At times, I'd need to take a break away from this drama to get a breather because there is just too much information one has to absorb within an episode.
As Crown Prince, every move Xiao Ding Quan makes is always undermined by unseen forces. Injustices and luck always deal him a lower hand. What seemingly works out great for him would turn out bad in a twist. Danger lurks in every corner. Lu Wen Xi's fate doesn't fare any better. She's constantly wrongly accused and persecuted; her loss and pain are immeasurable. Her tormented undying devotion for the crown prince is heart-breaking. In every episode, I'd have to hold my breath - it's really that intense. The unfair treatments both characters face and endure makes the viewers sympathize with them and demand justice to be served.
The acting is impeccable. Both Luo Jin and Li Yitong are excellent actors. They effortlessly capture all the essence of their characters and play them flawlessly. I'm particularly impressed by Li Yitong in this drama. I love her bare face look with natural make-up. She's so beautiful.
Have I mentioned the romance part? It's painful and bittersweet. I also love the relationship Xiao Ding Quan has with his older cousin, Gu Feng'en. My only comment here is just the visual aspect of the actors and their characters - Luo Jin (38 yr) is obviously a lot older than Zheng Ye Cheng (26 yr) who plays an older role. Playing a youth of 20 as the crown prince, Luo Jin seems to have overstretched a little bit. The age gap is too large and this has given me a mismatched feeling, as least visually. Nonetheless, it hasn't hampered the amazing work of this drama.
I almost missed the epilogue had I not completed playing the ending OST in the last episode. In it (the epilogue), it reveals who Xu Chang Nian is. Before this, I had always wondered which side he's on.
I would fully recommend this drama to anyone who loves Chinese historical stories and can endure mental torments. In terms of acting and plots, this drama is a true gem.
Two thumbs up!
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This review may contain spoilers
It’s one of the best Chinese political drama to date!
Actually, it’s one of the best political drama I’ve ever watched by far! Most importantly, you must also watch the extra 12 episodes of the Royal Nirvana 2 (special) after 60 episodes of the Royal Nirvana 1 to get the answer of everything. Though it’s not entirely a happy ending love story (which is typical ending in most political drama anyway), but it’s the perfect ending. Thanks to great acting of Luo Jin and Li Yitong, both are naturally amazing and deserve award for best actor and actress for their performance here! All out, bloody fantastic! 👍 This may not be an easy drama to watch due to its complex plots and characters, but it’s worth every minute of it!Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
From beginning to end, this drama was one that I had to take breaks from. The acting was exquisite, the production and direction were top notch, the story line was well thought out and on point. This drama sequences together the story of a prince, intelligent, arrogant and vulnerable to a court, who craves acceptance from a father; a king who cruelly envies the qualities he sees in a son, and a woman who believes in love and justice only to be seemingly betrayed. It is an emotionally raw portrayal of life, humanity and the price paid for power.Luo Jin's portrayal of the Crown Prince in this drama is flawless. He can be callous and cruel in one scene only to seamlessly show vulnerability and a smile in the next. His unbelievable chemistry with Li Yi Tonga makes their scenes riveting but I'm a firm believer this actor could show love to a dead log and make me a shipper.
Li Yi Tong deftly portrays Lu Wen Xi (or Gu A'Bao). This character suffers an enormous amount throughout the drama for various reasons: for the love of the Crown Prince, for the freedom of her family, and finally, for justice, she endures cruelty in every form. As a character, I would never, ever want her placed within close proximity of the Crown Prince; he is infatuated, cruel, indifferent, callous and at times, endearing. Had it not been for the subtlety the two actors portrayed their emotions, I could have not watched it. At the end of episode 52 and throughout 53, Lu Wen Xi 's trust in the Crown Prince is shattered and the expressions the actress used to convey this betrayal had me glued to the screen.
"Royal Nirvana" is like watching a spider quietly and carefully craft it's web. The twists and turns of the plot portray a deadly and brilliant Chinese court with those in pursuit of power sometimes ignoring what is right and just. I highly recommend it for viewing but beware the emotional toll it can have on the viewer. It's just that brutally honest about politics, power and consequences of both.
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The Crown Prince who Cared Too Much
===my review contains spoiler on the ending===I am reminded of Victor Hugo's Hunchback of Notre-Dame as I was watching this drama. Quite a few parallels-- right from the start, we sense an air of tragedy; both have physical tortures and punishments aplenty; both are melancholically beautiful. I remember having the most difficult time reading Notre-Dame, on one hand I love the prose and writing style, on the other hand, the story was so awfully tragic. That is the same experience with Royal Nirvana.
I'm not sure if the production team was trying to be ironic when they gave the English title "Royal Nirvana", because there is nothing nirvana about the story. Its Chinese title makes more sense-- 鹤唳华亭 is a poetic expression that means recollection of the past, a past that was very unpredictable and treacherous. Yet the treacheries and scheming in this story isn't as good as in Nirvana in Fire, The Rise of Phoenixes, etc. It is however outstanding in its detailed characterizations of the main leads and supporting characters. And watching the characters 'face off' in tensed moments are very well done in Royal Nirvana! The scenes between Crown Prince and Emperor, between Crown Prince and Wenxi, are full of tensions and emotions. Their feelings that were at times suppressed and hidden behind their words and actions, and at times expressed so boldly that left me in shock. The attraction of Royal Nirvana is not in its story, but in the storytelling: the cinematography, the dialogues and the acting.
I love the cinematography, the wide-angled view and 180° camera panning helped to pull me into the story. At times I felt as if I was there, an invisible soul standing at a corner watching the story unfolds. And the dialogues....Royal Nirvana has some of the best lines I've ever heard in a historical cdrama. The writer is very clever (and creative) in the use of simple words, arranging them in such a manner that made some of the lines so meaningful and unforgettable. The acting, hmmm. I know most viewers complain on Luo Jin's portrayal of the Crown Prince. For me however, I think he was right. This Crown Prince cared a lot, he cared too much for those that he loved and even those that he hated. He could never make a strong and firm stand for himself, and in the midst of trying to protect everyone, his path and objectives got very unclear. For such a character, it is not enough to portray him with sad eyes and a frown, he needed to cry. The whole cast put in a phenomenal performance, special mention on the Emperor, it is such a 'joy' when he is on screen. Although he is the most hated character, his acting is so naunced, it is an enjoyment to watch him. Lu Wenxi... oh my, every time her tiny frame showed up, I almost stop breathing because most of the tragedy and tortures were focused on her. When Crown Prince was with Wenxi, the onscreen chemistry was sizzling. I'm not sure if it was the director's artistic direction or the acting (maybe both), when these 2 were on screen together in the later parts, the undercurrent desires and sexual tensions could have melted my screen...
In case you have not watched this drama and is hesitating because the ML sounds like such a kill-joy, FL is very strong. Lu Wenxi-- an innocent lass who had merely wanted to follow her heart and be with the man that she loved, how she had to grow up and be brave in a short period of time. And how she exacted her revenge plan deserved standing ovation. It was such a checkmate move! She had not only thought through how each of the characters would react, she planned and made sure which ever move that they made, they would eventually end up where she wanted them to be. In comparison, ML spent most of the time in a reactive state, only reacting to the events that happened and not taking a pro-active lead. To some extent, his teacher and mentor had to take some responsibility for this. ML had went on the dark side early on in the story, he did an underhanded move to entrap his enemies. However his plan was not fail-safe, and when his teacher was sacrificed to protect him (and lectured him on integrity before he died), he vowed never to resort to underhanded means and never to put others in danger... which was really quite foolish, sigh.
So why am I rating this drama only 9? I am usually very generous and often give 9.5 and 10. That 1 missing point is because I'm really not convinced that this story had to be so tragic (this is also the reason why Hunchback of Notre-Dame is less well-known)... Due to censorship issues, a great chunk of about 10+ episodes were edited off at the end. Since it was edited off, couldn't they have given this a happy ending? Stop the story at the point when Wenxi had completed her revenge and Crown Prince made her his concubine. But it didn't and instead gave us a confusing ending, hinting that "more stuffs happened" but we couldn't show you. Maybe the director had planned for the Special and wanted to give an abstract ending so that viewers would still be interested to continue with the story in the Special. But such an ending was quite anti-climax and shallow, spoiling the emotionally rich and intense drama.
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Best Best Best Chinese drama
I knew this drama is a little bit depressive. But the cimematography and background music are absolutely stunning! I can rewatch this drama again and again. The storyline is too intense. If the screenwriter add more light heart scenes, this drama would be perfect. Anyway, I still think that this drama is phenomenal! The actings of ALL actors are great. The scene when crown prince was with Lu Wenxi, I can feel their sexual tension trough the screen :) Love the emperor. I mean his acting was so great that I felt like I want to punch him most of the times LOL. For me, this drama is my most favourite chinese drama of all times.Was this review helpful to you?
It is definitely a painful drama to sit through, painful not in that it is a bad drama, but that it is a heart wrenching one. As the Chinese fans like to say, this drama is alike finding candies among glass shards. It will be an emotionally draining piece, which can be credited to the great acting from the cast, not just the leads, but even the side characters.
If you are one that looks for dramas that can draw out that emotional investment, or if you are not concerned about that, DO CHECK THIS DRAMA OUT! It is definitely worth the time, cos it is a fresh, unpredictable drama. And definitely if you are one that likes political battles in palaces, do check this out!
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This is a very tough to watch political drama. It has many plot twists and uses many phrases from poem, which, if not translated well can confuse the audience, namely me! haha. I watched this show on YouTube and I think I did not really get the full enjoyment of watching this series because of poor English translation in YouTube. However, I really applaud both Luo Jin and Li Yi Tong, as well as the many senior supporting actors (including the king). That's what made this show with its long episodes enjoyable for me. If you fluently understand Mandarin, you would have enjoyed this drama a lot more. The other thing that I like is the cinematography. You are really spoiled with beautiful landscape and view. Really beautiful. And I like the OST and thought that the opening credit of this drama is really cool and has that "majestic" feeling. I would have rated this drama much higher had I watched it with perfect English translation. Was this review helpful to you?
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Good cast, awesome acting / action with a typical ending. After investing so much time the endings seem to fall a bit flat of the expectation with regard to the build up. I’ve heard it’s because of the editing that cut some 10 episodes out. But I loved the story.The chemistry between the couples, all of them were well matched and convincing. However, none of them had the ending that could’ve been.
All of the actors were awesome as is my experience watching these dramas. I appreciate how, no matter what their character/role is, they bring their best talents in their portrayal.
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Ambitious Production but Loses Momentum!
Stumble upon this show on youtube & i was instantly hooked. It's an ambitious production but after 2/3 into the show after ep.40, it's where the show really falters alot in storytelling, depth, & cohesiveness along with editing/cuts. The story is heavily revolved around palace politics & vengeance. It's not unique persay but the approach is rather refreshing in Royal Nirvana. It's about a Crown Prince Xiao Ding Quan who tries to right the wrongs & an imperial minister's daughter Lu Wenxi who becomes embroiled within the palace politics & schemes.The essemble cast is excellent. Luo Jin is superb as the crown prince with exceptional execution in dialogue & facial expression. Li Yi Tong portrays the intelligent & talented Lu Wen Xi, who is just as great/if not equally has the same caliber of acting alongside Luo Jin. They both have great screen presence & chemistry. Great performances. Luo Jin is a great crier. Tears falls down effortlessly & same with Li Yi Tong. I'm not familiar with these two works but they are excellent in Royal Nirvana with the materials they are given. Ep 1-18 is the set up of the story & characters in terms of relationship to eachother. Ep. 19 - 39 are my favorite episodes & probably where the writing is the strongest. I watched ep. 40-41 but ep. 42-50 without subtitles. This is where the writing becomes much weaker to the point of absurdity. The editing/abrupt cut from scene to scene is a visible. One of the biggest gripe of the show is the ENG translation. It lacks clarity & even dialogues are left out at a certain point. The original essence/meaning of the dialogue is lost & becomes a bit hard to understand certain scenes/situation of the story, which makes the political aspect/storyline of Royal Nirvana convoluted due to rough translation.
Xiao Ding is introduced as a very well versed/smart young man whom seems to set out an agenda against the imperial concubine & her family. His character is likable, especially with Luo Jin's impeccable acting. But his character becomes quite insufferable along with the palace shennanigans, especially after 40 episodes. His character lacks depth & character development is bare. There isnt a natural change or progression in his personality/mindset. He's somewhat stagnant throughout the show. His mannerism towards Lu Wen Xi also rather odd/becomes a tad unnerving onscreen later in the show as he physically wears her down. There's an imbalance of power, which makes their relationship unequal. There's also a huge lack of communication between the two which causes more dismay for Lu Wen Xi. Many problems could be resolve on the show if the writers had the two lead characters communicate/be on the same level of thinking/planning.
Lu Wenxi is a great character of talented feat. Unfortunately her characters get bogged down, beaten, yelled, & whipped. It's hard to not to feel frustrated with the writers, since she has so much potential, but she's put in many degrading situation that undermines her character. I enjoyed her character alot onscreen so it saddening to see a great female character exposed to an onslaught of repetitive assault. The romance for the two leads has potential but the progression towards it is rather abrupt/flat & questionable because of the imbalance between the two leads which can be fixed with proper development in the writing.
Royal Nirvana's strongest suites, besides the acting/cast, is the cinematography, costume designs & the beautiful music score. It is a visually pleasing show to watch, with it's attention to detail in colors, from the setting to the clothes the characters wear. It's not over the top/gaudy but it is definitely not cheap/tacky. The stage sets is also very nice. The music score on this show is amazing. The opening sequence has resemblance to the sound of Evernight's op sequence as both show shares the same music composer. Although Royal Nirvana has two composers. Music can either make/break the show but the music score here really heightens the show on an emotional aspect. Overall there are many things to like about Royal Nirvana & it's production. It has potential to be great but the writing drops in quality in cohesiveness & development/depth for the storytelling & characters.
This show reminded me alot of Rise of the Phoenix but revenge plots are pretty half baked in the C-Drama department. If you want a show that respects its female lead character with an excellent male lead character plus awesome character development, I recommend Story of Minglan. The story is also much more unique than your average palace politic shows.
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Cant wait to end the serial
Most actors and actress have a good acting skill, i watched this serial because of Luo Jin. Love the costum, simple but elegant. It was good at the beginning but at the middle of drama the story line suck. Im suppect if the script writer were differenf team. Full of tears scene, with shallow story line. Its must be hard for Luo Jin, to cry his heart out, bravo Luo Jin. Modern korean drama in classical chinese series. Tears are all ove the series. I have always skip the scene of main actor and actress, as its to draging.Was this review helpful to you?
