This drama would be great and much more enjoyable if it weren’t for the female main character. I have never seen such an unlikeable and annoying main female lead in all the dramas I can remember, so much so that I created an account just to vent my frustration. I have seen many dramas with spoilt rich main leads but they all had some sort of redeeming and enjoyable qualities about them. I do not understand why the writer had to ruin the series like that. The romance was just so forced in this drama. I wish these writers understood that not all series require romance. The female main character is spoilt but not cute, an annoying bully and does not think she is wrong, manipulative and has a ridiculously “everyone has to listen to me” kind of attitude. The writers were probably going for a spoilt but good vibe but it was just poorly done. And the scenes between female and male main characters were supposed to be funny but it was just awkward. The crime solving and two male leads were the only thing that kept me watching. The crime solving scenes and the way it plays out also become repetitive but I could still carry on, it is the female lead that made me want to throw my laptop!

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Struggled to finish the drama

The drama kept me interested for a while until the two main leads GBZ and WSY started all of a sudden caring so much about each other and getting all emotional when something happened to the other. I think the plot was interesting, it kept me watching with the mystery aspects but the romance was done terribly. I think the two main leads had like two interactions and all of a sudden they are willing to die for each other and getting all jealous and wanting to control each other's decisions. It just didn't make sense to me. I like the plot and I think it could have been a great drama if they didn't add these poorly done romance aspects. Another annoying thing was how they characterize BLHY to be this super smart guy but a lot of figuring plots out is given to the character GBZ, and they show BLHY's intelligence mostly by BLHY figuring out what GBZ is trying to convey to him in threatening moments. The characterization and plot together just wasn't very coherent to me. I liked some of the support characters back stories like that of GBZ's lady friend, while the addition of other supporting characters were quite confusing. Like, why give such characters so much screen time when they have little influence on the plot? It was just annoying watching them (like that of LR's brother). The point of LR's character and her ear-piercing "Er Lang" was also confusing to me. Why??? What is the point to show us this besides annoying viewers?

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Save yourself from this mother-daughter melodrama

This drama was way more mother-centric than romance, so anyone here for romance mainly will be disappointed. I don’t mind if it’s a family drama but the decisions made by the mother from start to finish will rile you up. Not to mention that there are constantly annoying, good-for-nothing characters with no redeeming qualities popping in one after the next. There are some good moments but the ratio of melodrama to fun moments tips the scale too much. I only stuck around for the main couple, their relationship was good to watch. Otherwise, definitely wouldn’t recommend this - it’s too stressful and brings a lot of unnecessary negative emotions and melodramatic moments.

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Overrated in my opinion

I watched this drama mainly because it was rated so highly on MyDramaList and I've enjoyed most of the top rated series listed on MyDramaList. It has also recently won an award so I wanted to see what it was about. I was quite disappointed. I honestly don't know why this series won an award, I feel like nowadays series/movies that are confusing and contain some element of "pyscho" are often highly rated and wins awards.
The love story is sweet but the characters didn't really tug at my heart. Like when they were sad, I didn't really feel anything. Some scenes I was just like "hurry up, we know this!". It is also rather depressing and the author seems to really understand depression and may have tried to bring this topic to light.
It had a good air of mystery and what made me carry on watching it was wanting to know what happened. Overall, I really think it is overrated and I just don't understand the high rating but obviously, this is just my view. My summary: it is a story of three guys obsessed with one girl resulting in everything that happened, with time-traveling element. I would definitely not rewatch. The sweet scenes just didn't have that 'awww, I'm totally into their relationship and want to relive it' kind of vibe.

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This rating will definitely go down

The style of this drama was refreshing and not something I'm used to or would like. It did keep me watching till the end, so it was an enjoyable watch. It definitely isn't a 9 rating for me though, many a times the events that take place are just too "convenient". I hate convenience plots. I'm not a fan of this style of comedy, the beginning scene had me thinking it would a really cool vibe of series but it focused much more on the comedy element. I didn't find it too funny, some of the comedy was kind of annoying and eye-rolling. I hated the villains and I loved the male lead so acting was on point. Overall, it is enjoyable and different but definitely not so high up on my favourite dramas list. I feel a lot of reviews have shared the same sentiment as me lately so I think this rating will definitely go down. If it doesn't, then these ratings aren't right.

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One of the absolute BEST stories out there

Nirvana in Fire is one drama I hold in the highest esteem. I watched it 4-5 years ago and I definitely think this should be a classic. The story is just amazing and so well thought out. The characters were wonderful and the traits they promote in the series make you wish that these characters exist in real life.
The pace in the beginning is slow but the setting is so beautiful that it doesn't take away from the drama. I also think it was necessary to set the scene. The acting was flawless. I worried and cared about so many of the characters. Fei Liu is just adorable. The loyalty, the virtue and honour of the characters are so inspiring.
I know series like this is not for everyone, and I'm not even the type to like this kind of series but this is the highest rated series of all time in my mind. This is a MUST WATCH.

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So many flaws with the story

I'm usually not very critical of dramas but this one really bothered me. It had the potential to be a really good drama, the cast and acting overall was good. The setting and overall storyline had a lot of potential. But the writing? OMG kill me now. I don't know how they could have screwed up so bad. I am quite sure if it wasn't for Xiao Zhan this drama would not have half the popularity it does now, people would have dropped it like hot cakes.

The biggest flaw is the inconsistency of the characters and how each storyline unfolds. The general drill of the storylines is "Gao Liang always benefits by sheer dumb luck and nepotism". I can understand if one of the main themes is nepotism in the drama but then show me it's the problem of the army, not every single damn higher up only favoriting Gao Liang. Then they try to tell you it's because Gao Liang is this amazing soldier so everyone loves him, but they don't show how he is so amazing. Really, the only time you know GL is amazing is through conversations by the leaders and how amazing he is. Not even a "why he is so amazing", he's just "amazing". The division commander is painted to be this absolute "fair" person yet he is the worst with the nepotism, like Mr Screenwriter Liu Yan, do you even know anything about the characters you are writing?

Then there are the time jumps that are just ghastly. They spent like the first 20 episodes developing this sort of "first love" romance between Gu Yiye and Jiang Nanzheng, and friendship/love triangle with Gao Liang, then the war happens and people are affected, Gu Yiye is emotionally damaged. Totally makes sense, but then it's like 5 years later and they show you Jiang Nanzhen loves Gao Liang, Gu Yiye is happy and getting married to A Xiu, ummmm, where is that whole process of emotional change? How did GYY become happy again? How did JNZ look at GL as more than just a friend? I think this is more core to the story than almost 20 episodes of "first love".

It's not all bad, the humor is good and GLs character is a lot of comic relief. GYY is just a likable character and the epitome of what a good soldier should be. The emotional scenes do give you the feels (most of them anyway). Supporting characters are generally likable and also contribute to a lot of the humor. Although I really don't find what is appealing about the female lead, JNZ.

Recommend? Only if you want to be spitting fire afterwards. If the logic of the story isn't so important to you, then I think it can be an enjoyable watch. Otherwise, don't even touch it.

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A few predictable scenes but worth the watch

Best:
Chu Yings character. I feel like he was the heart of the story. His character is a lot of times cute in his pure love for Go and childlike, sometimes annoying and sometimes stern. I really liked his character and it was what made me carry on watching the show.
Realistic growth. The drama shows how they grow from sometimes rather annoying characters to more mature people with life things. It depicts realistic phases of life.
Humor. I really liked the well placed humor, it had me laughing out loud.
Yu Liang and Hong He. I really liked these two characters, one bringing humor and epitome of a friend and the other just felt like a pure soul.

Annoyed with:
Cinematic angst. Some scenes/story arcs are annoying because they use the same predictable tactics to develop characters (eg Shen Yi Lang), making me feel like some of it wasn't necessary.
Story arc wrap ups. I liked but also did not like how they didn't give us closure on some character arcs.
Shi Guang: I found his character quite annoying and just generally not likable. He did a lot of things that just made me mad.
Rating on MDL. Although I find this drama endearing, I really don't feel like it deserves this 8.8 rating. Some story arcs I felt were forced because of how they used predictable tactics to create problems for characters.

#Spoilers
I wished they showed us where Chu Ying went and what happened to him. There was no closure on his character or how his journey was when he disappeared, which I think is not cool because this was just as much about his story as it was about Shi Guang.
The ending for Hong He felt so random and unnecessary. Why did his father suddenly end up like that? I feel like this was not fleshed out properly and it just sprung out of nowhere.

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A sweet family series that was unexpectedly addictive

I am always browsing for top rated series to watch because I love a really good series. I've also watched so many in my life so I get bored if it is a story I've seen plenty of times before. However, I always gave this one a skip because family drama does not excite me at all. But it was trending on Weibo one day so I decided to see what the fuss was about. I really didn't expect to like it so much, especially since it isn't the typical adventure, mystery, love or comedy genre I enjoy.
But Reply 1988 was such a heartwarming, funny series. The premise sounds so boring (I mean, I really didn't want to watch a show about a neighbourhood where nothing really exciting happens) but when you watch two episodes you start getting into it and understanding the allure. It is sweet, heartwarming, funny as hell and gives you some tears.
I loved the main girl. She was just so adorable, pretty and funny. Every other character also had their appeal. I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

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Epic love - definitely worth a watch

Production and Music:
This is one drama where I feel I can actually comment on the production and music because usually I don't notice these things in a series. The scenery in this drama are truly amazing - it just wowed me throughout the series. The music was also so on point, it was perfectly done to create the emotions you are supposed to have for each moment.

Story and Characters:
The storyline is something I enjoy, I love fantasy and the story was an interesting one. It can be considered an epic love story and the characters all have their charm. I think this is a story where character development is done rather well, you understand the "villains" and the "good guys" and they aren't your typical characters that you hate or love. Each character had redeeming qualities. Where the drama lost points for me is the last 10+ episodes because we see a lot of moping around of the three main leads. These kind of scenes really annoy me because its kind of boring to watch a character cry and weep and not actually move the story along. And we had to watch three mopers one after the other in this drama for quite a few episodes. Overall though, it is definitely worth the watch and rewatch.

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Actors were so well chosen for the characters. Story was absolutely great.

I loved the story, I loved the characters and I just loved the overall series. This is one of those rare series/movies where it seems like the actors were made to play their parts. Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji were such beautiful souls in such different ways. The way their relationship was portrayed in the series was perfect. Not only were these two characters wonderful, the other characters like the sister, the child and so many supporting characters that just made you care for them, love them and feel for them - I think this is one of the most important elements in a good series.
So many scenes made me cry, made me laugh, made me go 'awww'. The story, the pace, the setting, the characters, everything, made this drama what it was. This is definitely one of my top dramas. I would absolutely recommend this.
There was a flaw in my opinion though. There was one scene that made me cringe because it felt forced and lame, it lasted only a few seconds but I remember it quite well. It would be interesting to know if anyone felt the same way about it or even know which scene I'm talking about haha.
Overall, one of my top picks.

FYI, I don't like 10 ratings and I think MyDramaList ratings are generally too high. So on MyDramaList I rate them relative to other dramas and which ones I would expect to see in the top rated selection.

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An enjoyable watch

I really don't like stories or series that copy others and while the settings and story are different to The Untamed, some of the sayings and scenes just plain outright copy The Untamed. It's only one or two scenes and lines but considering it is same premise, I think even one is too much.

Having said that, evaluating the series on its own, it is an enjoyable watch. The most captivating character is Wen Ke Xing, I think the actor who played this role did an amazing job to bring out the manic, sad, tortured and happy sides of the character.

The plot is okay, nothing grand, I think the focus of the show was more on the dynamics of the characters and their relationships. I enjoyed the show but I must admit I did fall asleep for one of the episodes.

I think it did fall short on execution of some scenes. The last few episodes just didn't feel right and could have been done better.

Overall, it was enjoyable.

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Interesting and very well done love story.

I loved the leading characters in this romance. The female was funny and sassy, while the male lead was sweet and manly. The setting of the story was unique and the story line was fun. There were many parts that made me laugh out loud and cry. You get invested in the characters and that is so important in a series. I enjoyed every episode and it kept me hooked from the beginning. I think it has every element that a romance should have.

The setting was refreshing and made me think about the differences between North and South Korea. After watching the series, I actually went on a spree search for stories and videos about North Korea as I was quite curious. Although, I do take this media consumption with a grain of salt since I know how the media, especially the Western media, like their propaganda. I feel you never truly know until you've travelled to a place and experienced it for yourself.

If you are into romance with the feels and some humour, then definitely give this a try.

I like rating series based on how much I enjoyed it, how unique the story is and where I think it should be in the top rated list compared to other series.

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Love the world. The love is addictive.

When the series came out, I didn’t want to watch it because of an incident with the main actress Yang Mi. But everyone was raving about it so I caved. All I can say is Yang Mi really knows how to pick the winners.

The story is good but I think it’s the way the drama was done that is so appealing. It’s so beautiful and relaxing that you kind of just enjoy all the scenes. The supporting cast is fantastic and it wouldn’t be what it is without them. The characters and their interactions are probably what make the show so addictive.

The setting was absolutely gorgeous and it just looked like a high budget series.

For the romance lovers out there, this was definitely made for you. I think it is at the top of the list for those who like love stories.

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This is not the completed series. There are seasons following.

For those of you that don't know, this is not a completed series and the season ends on a cliffhanger. I thought it was important to mention because if you are like me and are used to Asian dramas not having multiple seasons, you will be in for a surprise. I was quite annoyed when I got to the ending only to find that the story was not completed. I like binge watching and cliffhangers are my pet peeve.

Now that is out of the way, the story is quite interesting. You are always in for a surprise and the story is never dull. The main character is witty and a master thinker. I loved the supporting characters, particularly the brother who always cracked me up every time he appeared. I also loved the relationships between the main character and his family and friends. The story is exciting, the scenes have a lot of humour and the storylines are unpredictable.

The reason I gave the story an 8.5 but overall 9 rating is because I did not like how the story begins but the overall story was great. I think it is lazy for a writer to begin a story by making it known that it is a story and just jump from the present to the past. I almost dropped it. Luckily I continued watching because it was a unique story and I'm always one for dramas with stories that are not overdone (like the typical historical political palace dramas where the ladies fight for power with one ultimate "Legend of...").

I would definitely recommend this drama if you are willing to wait for more seasons to come.

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