Just WOW - the hype is real

I'm quite late to the bandwagon, but am so glad that I gave this masterpiece a chance! I've watched many dramas over the years and I have to say this is probably one of the most well written dramas I've seen. The acting and storyline are amazing! I'm very pleased with the cast because they really brought the characters to life.

Mei Chang Su is the most beautiful tragic hero, and is a someone who I could not stop admiring episode after episode. His wit and intelligence never failed to amaze me. Despite the mental, physical and emotional pains he had to endure, he is blessed to have loyal and loving friends and comrades. The highlight of this drama is definitely the relationship between Mei Chang Su and the rest of the main characters. The BROMANCE is real yall. I love his bond with Fei Liu, Meng Zhi, Jingyan, Li Chen, etc. There is a bit of romance, but that was not the focal point of the drama (which I very much appreciated). Honestly, the story would have done well even if they decided to forego the romance.

I will say that this drama will require time and patience to watch because it is a slow burn with lots of details, so your full attention is required to really appreciate the story. The rewatch value would be high because I'm sure I missed a few details the first time watching. My only complaint was the way the last episode played out, as there were some things I would have changed (e.g. the filler scenes). Otherwise, I really enjoyed it.

Nirvana in Fire will definitely go down in history as a classic. Thank you to the writer, cast and crew for such a beautiful series.

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It’s the journey, not the destination

What a journey it has been for our main characters! It was one full of laughter, tears, love and friendship. The main cast did a spectacular job portraying characters whom I loved so much. You have equally strong male and female leads who stand strong on their own, but together, are unstoppable. The supporting leads were the cherry on top that made the story extra vibrant with their individual quirks and growth.

As much I was invested in the series, there were definitely parts that were lacking. Considering the strong introduction and plot development in the beginning, it fell short towards the latter third of the series. I was disappointed with the slow pacing of some scenes, anti-climatic showdowns, and lack of character development (i.e. Li Tong Guang). They could’ve scrapped some filler scenes and used that time to focus on what was more important.

After watching the last ep in full, I can accept the outcome for what it was. I interpreted it as RY and the fab 5 dying for the greater good with their heroic sacrifices, and reuniting in paradise. They all achieved what they set out to do and died without regrets, and so, it was a HE in its own way. However, they could’ve done a much better job wrapping up the series. They completely glossed over clearing NYZ’s brothers’/friends’ names, which was the main reason NYZ accepted the task in the first place. This deserved a whole scene where the names are cleared publicly.

I have my gripes about the show, but overall, still love the series very much. The mature love story, brotherhood, beautiful martial arts choreography and acting made this journey memorable.

Shoutout to the lovable characters:
Ru Yi - LSS never disappoints with the action scenes, love a badass FL who is strong and intelligent, defying the expectations of women in the era
NYZ - LYN did a great job in his first leading wuxia role. His character really set the bar too high for men, he is the dream man, almost too perfect. I love the mutual understanding and bond he shared with RY and the bros.
Shi San - Prob my fave character in the series. He made me laugh so hard and I always looked forward to his scenes. Definitely way better than the actor’s other role in The Long Ballad, which allowed him to showcase his potential. This is a great example of a secondary role that shines despite not being the main lead.
Yuan Lu - The happy vitamin of the group. It’s not hard to see why everyone adores him. His positive outlook in life and wisdom beyond his years was what made his character so wonderful.
QZ - The master of the RBF and side eye. Despite his stoic nature, his eyes really speak. He also seems to know all the gossip. The stark contrast between him and Shi San made it even more humorous.
Sun Lang - Fluffy and cute just like the animals he adores. A bit dense in certain matters, but his pure nature is what makes him adorable.
YY - The character with the most wonderful character development. She was a diamond in the rough who really shined. This is my first time watching this actress, and she did an amazing job! I can only see her continuing to amaze viewers with her range in acting.
LTG - The character who had the most potential yet fell to the back burner. I did not mind him being fixated on RY, in fact, his unwavering love/obsession was quite impressive. However, I wished they had fleshed out his character more as he could have had a bigger role in the main plot. Very unfortunate.

To conclude, I recommend this series if you want a good wuxia drama packed with action and romance/bromance. A great drama to end the year of 2023.

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A lotus in full bloom

This is a story about a hero who once stood at the top of the world, before his whole life changed overnight. Through his journey as a wandering physician solving mysteries and closing the lose ends of his past, he forges everlasting friendships with two if the most unexpected people. This drama was a meaningful one as it illustrated various life lessons stemming from human desires, resentment, loss and letting go.

Although the first chunk of the series is relatively slow paced (and a bit dry), the story unfolds to reveal events that are intertwined allowing the viewer to appreciate the first few cases that set the stage and tone for the main plot.

From the amusing bromance/friendship between the main leads to the beautifully choreographed martial arts scenes, this drama leaves a deep impression that was only strengthened by Cheng Yi’s elegance and good grasp of his characters. Not all heroes wear capes and wield swords. Some carry a heart of the lotus in full bloom.

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My thoughts

My thoughts on the ending…(from watching 46 episodes and peaking through the last two)


POTENTIAL SPOILERS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
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Things I loved:
- The brotherhood between the characters from FJM&DX, ZY&HS which were one of the standouts in the show, even above the romance
- Action and cinematography = amazing, it’s been a while since I’ve seen action scenes that don’t just rely on special effects
- The talented and intelligent main leads, and their teamwork (which is refreshing because I’ve watched a lot of dramas where the Emperor/Crown Prince are not the smartest people)
- MVPs: Lang Huan, Mu De Qing, Yuran, Aunt Su, Shaozi, Youdu, Jifeng crew (giving some love to the supporting characters), definitely pillars of the main leads’ success
- Chemistry between the leads (I personally liked Yang Mi and William Chan’s chemistry)
- BTS VIDEOS = the actors are hilarious
- Previews that sometimes tricked us and were not fully predictable
- OSTs (Zhang Bi Chen and Zhou Shen —> cannot go wrong here)
- This FORUM and discussions!

Things I wasn’t crazy about:
- The weak one-sided villains —> very anti-climatic. I would have appreciated a more layered villain (one big bad guy, no need for two villains here) since all the characters are relatively intelligent and wise. A more complex scheme/battle would have been more suspenseful (and honestly they had the time to do that in the series)
- Tilan’s love line (I like her and DX individually, but am not crazy for their romance. The time spent on them could have been used to develop other parts of the story and lack of ZYxZL)
- DX's expressions were sometimes a bit exaggerated, still gave me a good laugh though as the character is endearing at times
- I feel like there were a few minor loopholes that could’ve been flushed out more by removing some filler scenes or flashbacks

No story is perfect as everyone has their own vision of how they wish the events of the story would take place. But enjoyed this journey!!! I will miss them all.

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Sword Snow Stride - worth the watch!

I just finished the series and have to say, wow, I was pleasantly surprised. At first I thought this would be a hardcore wuxia series packed with action and fierce martial art techniques because of the title. However, it involves more intellect and wit.

If you're looking for complex/amazing action scenes or romance, this may not be the drama for you. However, I highly recommend it to those who enjoy seeing intelligent characters outsmarting each other with their tactics. The plot was a slow burn, but was well written for the most part (minus some of the action scenes, which relied a lot on special effects). I was in awe with how intelligent and witty the characters were - smart yet quirky. The highlights of the drama definitely include the tactics, loyalty of the people in Beiliang, brotherhood and family. I personally think they did a good job with the cast - they suited their roles and had great chemistry.

Although it's only season 1, they wrapped it up nicely without leaving a terrible cliffhanger. Not sure if/when they'll film the subsequent seasons but hopefully soon with the same main cast (please don't change any of them)!!!

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A beautiful love story - The Yin to her Yang

For a xianxia, this was quite an easy watch due to the simple plot that did not involve too much angst or unnecessary misunderstandings. I loved our amazing female lead Shen Li, a strong, courageous woman who never wavers in sticking to her beliefs, principles, and always fighting for her people. I loved the dynamic she has with XZ, who was the yin to her yang.

There were definitely moments in the drama that felt a bit slow, with too many flashbacks - I think they could've easily made this drama to 30-35 eps. But overall the acting, chemistry, solid soundtrack, cinematography and special effects made this a memorable series.

When it comes to ZLY and LGX's acting and chemistry - you just cannot go wrong. It was nice to see them work together again as more mature and seasoned actors, bringing their characters to life, and bringing out the best in each other as actors. I can only hope they work together again in the future!

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A hit fantasy drama series of 2023!

WOW, I'm so glad I gave this drama a chance. I typically avoid fantasy/xianxia genres because they follow a similar storyline, and are usually a miss imo. However, the plot and characters were very refreshing. I know that adaptations never follow the original stories 100%, but I'm glad that this drama follows closely to the novel (so far from what I've seen), from the main plot to the essence of the characters.

The actors truly brought the characters to life - Yang Zi, Zhang Wan Yi, Deng Wei, Tan Jian Ci - they did superb! Besides YZ, the actors were all new to me and I was very impressed with their ability to convey emotions and micro expressions. The chemistry is great and they are the reason behind the drama's success. The cinematography and special effects were superb - definitely a high budget series. The OST soundtrack also complements the different scenes and characters' POV.

I am hoping that season 2 delivers well. I've heard rumours about scenes/episodes being cut due to regulations, and am praying that is not the case as this would really ruin the drama's success. Looking forward to season 2 and the rest of the story. Definitely going to finish reading the novel - highly recommend!

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Beautiful love story - 2 amazing leads

I usually avoid XianXia genres because they always follow the same type of storyline. While Immortal Samsara was no different in terms of depicting a love transcending different lifetimes and all the emotional angst, Yang Zi and Cheng Yi really carried the show with their acting and chemistry. I loved that they played characters that can stand on their own (both are equally intelligent and talented), and are unstoppable as a team. I appreciate that the characters remained consistent from beginning to end, with some growth and development. There was no damsel in distress or weird shifts in characterization midway through the series.

This drama definitely had its flaws. There was choppy editing and too much focus on the side characters (and their love stories). They could have used that time to focus no the main couple and plot.

Overall, I enjoyed the series (had a good laugh too at times). A beautiful love story between YingYuan and YanDan!

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