The BRILLIANT cinematography and dramaturgy is breathtaking and really pulls you in. There is an atmosphere that is overwhelming and is still with me days after I finished this series. The emotions and feelings came across so well, with a lovely original sound track. There were moments in this drama that were so brilliant that I had to remember to breath. I felt so moved and invested by the end that I cried because I won’t ever get to watch this for the first time ever again.
The actors were fantastic and the directing was wonderful. These characters are not all easy to portrait but they came across so well. The whole ensemble worked very well together. The actors and director set a tone that was intriguing and appealing. How they moved and the mannerism they used were perfect and it was very satisfying to watch how it reflected the way royal court worked in the old days. The costumes are lovely and beautiful. The setting locations, the backdrops and the props were just magnificent!
The main story is very touching and not a straight up revenge story, but instead about fairness, truth and justice. I found that so appealing. Shades of grey of good versus evil. I was so invested in the friendship between the two main male leads, it was beautifully portrayed and involved elements like loyalty and trust. They were perfect together. As the story unfolded I rooted for them, cried with them and cheered them on.
One of the things that made me really interested in this story was the fact that our hero is very sick and weak. His power is not brute strength but his brilliant mind. For me this is the first of watching a drama where the main character is truly dying and very weak, at no time does he pull any superhero stunts. Except when his mind solved problems with impossible odds!
The romance is almost none existent in this drama. It is sweet but chaste and not at all any main focus. I actually quite enjoyed it being so on the low and not in the way for the more important events. You won’t be seeing the hero rescuing the princess from the castle, because she can take care of herself. I do actually think this drama is labelled wrong when the tag says romance.
The story pacing is excellent! The side stories spanned two or three episodes, often overlapping, and were all linked to the main story. The plotting and planning was exciting. I was worried going into this that I would not enjoy or be able to follow the politics, but it was more like watching the detective case of the week and before I knew it I suddenly knew all the characters and was perfectly following along how everything unfolded. Not getting it the first couple of episodes was not frustrating an everything was presented so naturally that I was never confused or frustrated. There was never really any effort.
I am having problems with coming up with downsides of this series. What did I not like, what were the mistakes. But I seriously can’t. It was like it was made for me.
My views on this is as a total beginner of this type of drama (Wuxia drama that is, though I am a fantasy lover and watch loads of Korean drama). I usually avoid fantasy with too much “flying” fighting, because it breaks my immersion, and go for the more realistic (haha…) fighting style productions. But before I watched this I stumbled upon a short description of the typical standard Wuxia world building and I suddenly understood that things did not work as they do in our “world”. As a nerd I filed some of the information away as totally legit and comparable to a D&D rule set.
Shallow as I am I also need to address the two male leads again and their "bromance". Hu Ge who is playing Mei Chang Su/Su Zhe took on a role I think is very difficult to portrait without coming across as fake. He is supposed to be very sick and that is easy to overdo. With just his body language and demeanor he made me feel his pain. There was no room for overacting. Still he was very sexy. Because a brilliant mind is something extremely attractive.
Wang Kai who plays Prince Jing played a more rough cut type of role. Even so when he broke into emotions it was heart achingly good. I could feel his sorrow and believed the emotions he displayed. Also, the very dark voice he has is something of the sexiest I have ever heard. I am just that shallow I guess. :)
These two together were amazing!
I loved this! I can’t recommend it enough.
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This review may contain spoilers
Not My Cup of Tea
I'm one of the few who is not in love with this drama. I was thinking to drop it around episode 21 or 22, but others on MDL said it picks up around episode 35. Well, the lie detector test determined that that was a lie. It was boring to the bitter end. It is a political drama filled with long, drawn-out dialogues and in some cases, very questionable logic. If you feel that you should drop it, do not doubt yourself because of what others say, listen to your gut and drop it. I am not mad that I watched it, but I should have followed my intuition and just read recaps.What I liked:
-Fei Lu- Yes, the boy who spoke the least and loved eating and fighting was my favorite. He was adorable and extremely loyal.
-The Emperor, Jing Rui, Yu Jin, Lin Chen, Prince Ji, Meng Zhi, and Gao Zhan- These characters added some comic relief to a very serious and boring drama.
What I didn't like:
-Mei Chang Su- Yes, I know everyone loves him, but I didn't care for him. He was very smart, but he had a sanctimonious air to him. I lost all interest in him after what he caused at Jing Rui's birthday party. He wanted his revenge but often didn't take into consideration the feelings of people he was using as stepping stones.
-The keeping his identity from Prince Jing storyline was annoying and drawn out for too long. Prince Jing didn't find out until episode 48 or 49. I also didn't like that when Prince Jing was very close to figuring it out, the ML, the princess, Prince Jing's mother, and General Meng would consistently lie to him and insult his intelligence by gaslighting him. I don't know how he was able to trust any of them after that. I don't care if it was for the greater good, these are not the actions of trustworthy people.
-This drama lacks an emotional connection. I could not connect with many of the characters, especially the ML. They tried to make us feel something between him and the princess, but we never really saw any romance between them. We know they love each other, but I couldn't feel anything for them. Everyone raves about the bromance, but it actually didn't do anything for me. In terms of bromance only, it doesn't compare to Cross Fire, Ouroboros, Handsome Sibling, or Inseparable Bros, in my opinion. The only times this drama elicited feelings from me was when Prince Yu was pleading with his father while he was in the cage after his rebellion (he acted really well in that scene) and Tong Lu's little love story.
My recommendation is if you want to watch it, then watch it; if you want to drop it, then drop it.
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1Let's talk about politics!
Last year I started this drama with the expectation of an epic revenge-historical story given the high ratings and reviews. However, the drama turned out to be more of a political story than a historical drama and being too boring for my personal taste it ended up on my drop list. This year I decided to give it a second chance trying to put my prejudices aside, but the drama did not pay off my patience and proved to be an extremely overrated title.The promise of revenge in a historical setting is transformed from the first episodes into a political drama told through the dialogues of the characters. I cannot declare in a review that the drama is boring and that this type of directing is not good because it depends on personal taste, but I can judge if the directing is suitable for the type of story being told and the answer is NO.
As I always say, a drama can have the best story in the world but it is useless if it is told badly, and the storytelling chosen for NIF is bad. Not only is the action reduced to a minimum, but a large part of the story is told through the dialogues of the characters, listening to them or rather by reading the subtitles, we will discover facts and/or people that we have not yet seen on the screen and, in some cases, we will never see. Add to this a story that is not as exceptional as many say.
The protagonist is a strategist acclaimed by many since he has been planning his revenge for years, thanks to a dense network of spies. He is also afflicted by a disease of which very little is revealed to us for the sole purpose of being able to then exploit it for twists related to pills and various poisons. In addition, he refuses to reveal his identity to his allies even when some of them still discover the truth, the reasons behind it is the same as above, being able to exploit the relationship of friendship, trust, and distrust that is created precisely because of his false identity.
From this type of protagonist, who can only fight with the intellect and not with brute force, I expected refined strategic plans, instead, he actually limits himself to waiting for his enemies to get into trouble, when this happens, he maneuvers the court to bring them down and replace them with trusted people. Being enemies of high rank, the punishments they go against are summed up in exile or loss of rank - political power, leaving the viewer with a sense of dissatisfaction, as the main purpose would theoretically be revenge.
The more the story progresses, the more we realize that the protagonist is infallible, even in the few moments of difficulty, which obviously occur when he is unable to act due to his illness, we already know that he will be able to get away with it. All this makes the story particularly tedious, but also predictable and above all unexciting, since we already know that there will be no serious consequences for the enemies and that the ML will win at the end. Rinse and repeat for 54 episodes and you will start to not feel anything for anyone, included for those few twists plot placed along the way.
Overall, the author is one of those who makes everything fit together in a convenient way and the story develops in a very repetitive pattern, including the characterization of the characters. The clever and lazy style of the author stands out particularly in the ending, where not knowing which alternative to choose, he proposes both, with a protagonist that in the penultimate episode declares one thing and then does the opposite in the final episode.
Add a non-existent romance, some stupid characters to the point that the protagonist always has to explain to them the reason for his actions, villains of little depth, more annoying than bad, and what remains? Great cinematography, music, and good acting, definitely not enough to balance almost 54 hours of political chatting.
Overall, NIF is a political drama where conspiracy rules instead of revenge that it takes courage to call it such since the main purpose was actually to bring justice to innocently slaughtered people. The convenient writing that passes itself off as intellectual and the direction that uses dialogue to tell a story that should be shown have damaged the entire production. Cinematography, music, and acting are saved, but they are not worth the hours it takes to finish it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Gold Standard for C-Dramas
Its 2023, years since NIF has been out and I STILL have friends who have not watched despite hearing rave reviews. Please give this drama a chance. At first glance it might not have the pretty young faces of idol dramas but what it does have is a deep and intricate plot, good overall pacing and a stellar cast.Story - It might start a bit slow as it lays down the groundwork and setting for the story, but quickly gets more interesting after 6th or 7th episode after you get a feel for the context of the story. Its a battle of wits and smarts, righting old wrongs, enduring friendships, and betrayals by those you thought could be trusted. And its about an unfavored prince who, with the right advisor, grows the motivation to also fight for the throne with his brothers.
Acting/Cast - Wang Kai and Hu Ge were amazing as the main characters. Wang Kai as that unfavored prince who transformed in the story from someone resigned to being unfavored with no shot at the throne, to someone who is determined to fight for it for the sake of the people and for the sake of those wronged in the past. Hu Ge did great as that mastermind manipulator navigating all the political schemes like a chess grandmaster, while at times showing some regret/sorrow for who he needs to manipulate to accomplish his plan. I also loved the supporting cast, especially Liu Min Tao's character as Jing Yan's mother. There really was not a single character from the main leads to the minor characters that I was disappointed with. Even supporting characters who only showed up in a few episodes a small handful of times, I remember their backstory well and what their role was and was invested in what happened to them--even the supporting cast was memorable. I wish I could thank the entire cast and crew for creating this wonderful drama.
I've rewatched this drama a couple times already and while I don't usually enjoy stories with power scheming and the backstabbing/cunning of harem politics as much, I really loved this drama. As far as pacing and storytelling, fleshing out the characters, finding the right cast for the roles INCLUDING the supporting characters, I hold this drama up as the gold standard for other dramas to aim for.
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Best C-Drama of the 21st century
I watched this drama later than everyone else; 16 months after the original TV broadcast. I watched the entire drama in three weeks, staying up until 3AM, to watch episodes.Nirvana in Fire is a TV drama masterpiece, that was brilliantly written and produced. All the actors in the primary and supporting roles, gave exceptional acting performances. Hu Ge and Wang Kai were the perfect casting choices for the Mei Chang Su and Prince Jing Yan roles. The costume designs and the set designs were flawless, and the music soundtrack was perfect. The directing and editing were very good.
The intricate plot flowed like an English Literature textbook. Hai Yan's novel, "Lang Ya Bang", deserves recognition in the Asian and Western literary worlds, and the TV drama deserves honors in the Asian and Western entertainment industries. All TV production houses should use the Nirvana in Fire as the benchmark for their dramas.
This is the first TV drama that I awarded 10 points across the board.
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The standard by which I measure all other dramas
It's been 5 years since this drama came out, and still there is almost nothing that compares to the magic of NIF:- a focused, structured story that is well-paced, doesn't have any filler content, and also doesn't think of its audience as idiots
- strong, intelligent characters that are unique and lovable (or at least understandable), both male and female, with character arcs that go somewhere and feel earned
- natural, expressive acting where you feel the full personality and history of each character
- beautiful costumes, settings, and scenery as befitting a historical/costume drama
NIF has the clear elements of good narrative storytelling, which seems rare in dramas nowadays - setup, rising action (with each step a necessary piece of the plot and building up the tension), climax, and resolution. Most other dramas that I've seen fall into a trap of just having things that happen one after another, with nothing to link them together and no clear advancement or tie to the plot = it's less a story and more just a series of events.
The only criticism I might have of NIF is that I felt the resolution was a bit rushed, but otherwise this is the drama that I measure all others by, and the vast majority of them fall short.
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Not even exaggerating, by the way.
1) The reason I watched this :
if you’ve poked on my dramalist, you would probably know that I watch Korean dramas almost exclusively. It’s partly habit, partly soft spot, and partly the excellent production values that kdramas tend to serve up. Coz I do like pretty things, as you very likely know.????
Still, I like to keep an open mind, and when something that’s not within my usual wheelhouse gets a lot of buzz, the curious cat in me can’t help but want to see for myself what the fuss is about.
That’s what happened here.
2) background and cinematography :
A LAND OF FAIRYTAIL, its a world in itself , a unique story plot fantasy world , full of twists and LOVE , the scenes itself , are original .. The production values of this show are so high that it often feels more gloriously cinematic than modestly small screen.
Everything is carefully, lovingly, beautifully shot, and it is a literal feast for the senses. From the amazing landscapes, to the loving camera angles and every meticulously-framed shot, to every deliberate, painstaking detail in set, costume and background music, everything is precisely, just-so perfect.
*The cinematography is great , which is one of the strong points of this drama
3) Acting
Our principal cast does a tremendous job of bringing their characters to life, and even the baddies are excellently and believably portrayed. Layered and nuanced from the big moments to the quiet, subtle ones, every major character is delivered with an admirable level of mastery and commitment.
10/10.
4) The writing
Its all about the writing ... this show wouldn't have been a success without the great mind of the writer,As excellent as the production values and acting are, the writing is truly the star of this entire show. Mad, mad props to Hai Yan, who not only wrote the original novel, but also penned the script for this show.
ONE WORD " General brilliance "
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
Its like I lived in the world of FANTASY and dreams for a short period of time :)
*Is the drama memorable: YES
My impression: 9/10.
6) Overall: 9/10
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The ONE Chinese Drama, Everybody should watch! Instant classic! Masterpiece!
This is MY FAVOURITE ASIAN DRAMA SO FAR!This is one of the Best Chinese Dramas ever produced. A MASTERPIECE!!
A story about revealing the truth. About Revenge, yet it's much more than that.
The Main Male Lead is one of the smartest written characters ever.
The story is Excellent. It's about a quest to make things right. (Justice)
That is the goal of the main Character, Mei Chang Su.
This story brought me to tears, tears were shed for the romance moments,
the bromance between Mei Chang Su and Prince Jing.
Even shed tears for Prince Yu and Emperor.
I loved all these characters, like they were real!
The Characters were very much alive, and they had reasons for their actions good and bad.
Also the characters motives was very reasonable, with a lot of depth.
Most Characters had Depth and were smart. The Martial arts scenes was amazing too.
All the Actors were amazing and really did a great job.
Especially Hugh Hu, Tamia Liu, Wank Kai, Victor Huang, Ding Yong Dai and Leo Wu.
The Music was amazing in this show, I loved the main instrumental theme.
A theme that perfectly fits this Drama.
I have already watched this again. So definitely want to rewatch this one in the future.
Overall one of the best and most moving stories I have seen and experienced.
This just shows, how incredible Chinese Dramas can Be!
STILL THE GREATEST CHINESE DRAMA EVER, In my eyes!
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Its definitely no surprise that NIF is one of the best rated dramas worldwide. It is still highly regarded by a large majority of the drama audience to be one of THE BEST dramas ever produced. It completely deserves that rating.
STORY:
The ultimate revenge plot. The best scheming and plotting (but in a great way) written for TV. Oftentimes, you'll watch a drama with tons of manipulations and plotting, and they'll feel repetitive or basic. NIF is completely different. Every step, word, every breath that Mei Chang Su takes all has a greater purpose. It's the best bittersweet story as you find out who was behind everything that happens to the Chi Lin Army those years ago and what happens when you cross Mei Chang Su. Although I feel like most people have watched it by now, I definitely don't want to spoil it for people who haven't gotten to witness the majesty yet haha.
Be warned, yes it takes a few episodes to get super hooked. The first few episodes are a little slow, but few tv dramas aren't. I'm honestly ok with the slow start because when it gets going, it doesn't really stop. The relationships between the characters (both romantic, familial, and brotherhood) are so captivating. Every character has a purpose and no one really feels unnecessary to the overall plot.
This is definitely a show you have to pay attention to because even some of the smallest, seemingly meaningless details can have a big impact on the overall story. Everything was honestly so well weaved together and everything served a greater purpose.
ACTING:
Phenomenal. Amazing. Outstanding.
Hu Ge, Wang Kai, Liu Tao: They were household names after this (if they weren't already before). They were all amazing at their respective roles. Everyone felt real and well rounded. They all had their moments of being serious or being comedic or whatever it might be. Honestly you just have to watch the drama to understand.
Comedic Awards go out to Meng Zhi and Fei Liu because they (with sprinkles from the other actors) were the bright spots in a fairly serious and dramatic tv drama.
REWATCH VALUE:
I've only watched through twice, but I will definitely watch again and again. The drama gets a little hard to follow at times because of how intricate the plot can be sometimes, so the second rewatch brought everything together for me as I was able to pay closer attention to everything since I already knew the outcomes. 100% recommend for anyone because this drama has all of the good stuff you want in a drama and almost nothing bad.
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This review may contain spoilers
I am normally very hesitant when it comes to watching Chinese dramas because I’ve tried crossing the boarders many times over my drama-watching -years but I end up giving up each time. However, none of the dramas were historical/wuxia ones so a dear friend of mine has once jokingly said, “maybe you’ll like their historical dramas?” It was a joke but I seriously thought it through and all the praise I’ve heard about NIF has finally pushed my button. It was time to take the step, and boy am I glad that I did.I have to confess one thing before I start, the storyline is what drew me in considering I did not really care for most of the cast prior to watching. Nevertheless, their portrayal was so captivating that I was won over completely.
Nirvana in Fire is a smart show. All the characters are smart and act in rational ways it’s so mesmerizing! The political maneuvering by the various competing parties in the show is like watching a brilliant game of chess being played in front of you. The show is so smart that sometimes I feel like I’m getting smarter as I’m watching it! Every scene, every action, every word has a purpose. Everything counts! The story forces you to stay alerted to every little detail, because every little detail matters and might be introduced ahead many episodes before you could understand what is it aimed for. Although some may say it’s slow paced plot but for me I was constantly holding my breath eagerly watching how our leads will turn a potential defeat into a victory.
The high production value evident with the impressive cinematography of the imperial court and countryside, beautiful costumes, dazzling sword fights… not to forgot the breathtaking introduction which is very deeply related to the story if you watch you will understand the meaning behind a butterfly emerging from cocoon.The story unfold bit by delicious bit. The plot had all the elements you could think of.. greed, betrayal, loyalty, suspicion, love, revenge, lust for power, implications of genocide, jealousy, honor, integrity, murder, cruelty, kindness, generosity and mixtures of these qualities in conflict and contradiction.
Characters:
Hu Ge as Mei Chang Su: My absolute favorite actor and character! Considering that his character is the emotional heart and of the show, it was vital that Hu Ge’s performance be no less than phenomenal and indeed it was. He was a piece of art! Hu Ge eyes were so expressive! By only looking at his gaze I’d immediately feel the chill and fire at the same moment! The character of Mei Changsu is very dynamic and complex! It requires someone who has the ability to portray the character in a nuanced manner. Hu Ge managed to portray the varying components of his character from mischievousness to deviousness, cunning to kindness, unscrupulousness to tenderness, sorrow to longing, etc. I am mostly amazed by how Hu Ge has totally embodied the weariness of his character so well! Every little gesture was so unbelievably well mastered! What a gem of an actor
Wang Kai as Prince Jing: I heard that this drama escalated his status as an actor; it’s no surprise to me! If I had to describle Prince Jing I would say he is the idealistic form of power/authority that everybody dreams of living under which why it took me sometime (over half of the show) to warm up to him and accept his stubbornness and impulsive reactions. It’s not that I had a problem with his beliefs, I admired that he would stick to his guns and would never sacrifice his morals for power. But sometimes it got too naïve and idealistic for my taste. The world isn’t an ideal place, a price will always be paid for the greater cause… is what I believe so his character frustrated me (sometimes) but by the end I came to like him very much. For me to even like or dislike any of Prince Jing’s actions proves that Wang Kai is clearly a very talented actor.
I would love to talk about each and every character but the review would go on and on so for your sake I’m just mentioning the two most powerful characters. Nonetheless I have to give everyone in the cast a big round of applause for their wonderful performances. The whole cast is just so darn likeable and everyone portrayed their character so fantastically! From the very top to the very bottom, from the veterans to the younger actors, everyone did a great job.
Music:
I fell for the OST the instant I heard it before engaging into the story (and that has never happened before). To my surprised 3 songs were sung by the 3 main actors, Hu Ge, Wang Kai and Liu Tao so they aren’t only great actors but can sing this beautifully? Talk about perfection :)
My favorite song is Aging of a Beauty by Liu Tao
Lastly I will leave you with “some of the spoiler-free” favorite quotes of mine:
“You know, this pair of hands, used to bend bows and tame horses. But now it can only hide in the dark and stir the pot.”—Mei Changsu
“People can only be betrayed by friends, enemies will never have chance to do so” —Mei Changsu
“If not for the people, what need for an emperor?” —Mei Changsu
“If you did things for others to see, then it’s a problem of your moral character, but if no one knew of your good deeds, then it’s a failure on my part as your adviser”–Mei Changsu
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