sunako_yue (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sunako_yue) wrote2021-12-12 09:40 am
sunako_yue) wrote2021-12-12 09:40 am
Entry tags:
Nirvana in Fire
In sixth-century China, Emperor Xiaoxuan of Southern Liang orders the unjust execution of his brother-in-law General Lin Xie, alongside the Lin family, his 70,000 army soldiers, and Crown Prince Qi. Secretly surviving the massacre is Lin Xie's son, Lin Shu, who undergoes medical treatment that changes his appearance entirely and leaves him in a weakened state, unable to perform martial arts again. Lin Shu changes his name to Mei Chang Su and later becomes the chief of the pugilist world and establishes the Jiangzuo Alliance.
Twelve years later, Lin Shu returns to the capital with a secret plan after being sought after by Prince Yu and Prince Xian during their fight for the throne. He decides to covertly assist Prince Jing, the unfavoured son of the Emperor, and wisely rids the court of all scheming officials. (MDL-2015)
I am so happy this lived up to my expectations! I was saving it for later on because I knew I was going to have withdrawal symptoms once I finished it (and I do... 2 days later I am still thinking about it) but once I knew the original version was removed from Viki and seeing there is a new version without a certain actor's scene on it, I just had to watch it.
Truth is, while it is interesting from the first episode, it didn't WOW'ed me for the first 19 episodes, so I was feeling very disappointed. It was a very witty drama from the get-go but I don't know why I just wasn't hooked. Was it because of the millions of characters and the very complicated character chart? No idea, and I will find out once I rewatch it (hopefully very soon) but till The Worst Birthday Party episode, I wasn't feeling it. But once we get to ep20, everything is going to O_O unexpected and with twist here and there and I loved how, while the antagonists are very smart, the good ones are even smarter. Seems like the antagonists have the upper hand in this new scheme, but nope, again come the MC outsmarting them, so satisfying.
The cast was marvelous, everyone was so good. Just when I was thinking, oh, this actor/actress takes the crown, someone else had a great scene and stole the show again. I did shed tears several times, and a couple of them were because of the actress who played Princess Nihuang... her tears were so convincing :( The actor for Jingyan was amazing; when he was looking at Mei Changsu! The chemistry wow. The Emperor was so good as well, I mean, everyone was excellent so they each added a layer to their characters so even for the antagonists/villains, you can't hate them.
The music was fine, I didn't love it but they suited the drama, and the OP song specially, + the OP sequence, was excellent (The Untamed has a similar OP sequence). Finally an OP sequence with no spoilers!
There were so many memorable scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat, like ep33 where Jingyan cuts ties with Mei Changsu, or when Nihuang and the Consort Jing confirm Mei Changsu is Xiao Shu, or the battle in ep44.... like WOW, how isn't this drama more popular with the Western? Should have a fandom as big as GOT.
I also love the fact that the women in this drama are strong and intelligent and no one is a bitchy just because. If they are (like the mother of the Crown Prince at the beginning) is because of thirst for power, not because of jealousy or love or other silly reason like in xianxias.
I admit that the last 2 episodes are a bit underwhelming, so that makes 21episodes out of 54 where I wasn't too impressed. But nevertheless this was an amazing drama that doesn't deserve anything else below a 10 star rating.
**My rating: 10/10**
Twelve years later, Lin Shu returns to the capital with a secret plan after being sought after by Prince Yu and Prince Xian during their fight for the throne. He decides to covertly assist Prince Jing, the unfavoured son of the Emperor, and wisely rids the court of all scheming officials. (MDL-2015)
I am so happy this lived up to my expectations! I was saving it for later on because I knew I was going to have withdrawal symptoms once I finished it (and I do... 2 days later I am still thinking about it) but once I knew the original version was removed from Viki and seeing there is a new version without a certain actor's scene on it, I just had to watch it.
Truth is, while it is interesting from the first episode, it didn't WOW'ed me for the first 19 episodes, so I was feeling very disappointed. It was a very witty drama from the get-go but I don't know why I just wasn't hooked. Was it because of the millions of characters and the very complicated character chart? No idea, and I will find out once I rewatch it (hopefully very soon) but till The Worst Birthday Party episode, I wasn't feeling it. But once we get to ep20, everything is going to O_O unexpected and with twist here and there and I loved how, while the antagonists are very smart, the good ones are even smarter. Seems like the antagonists have the upper hand in this new scheme, but nope, again come the MC outsmarting them, so satisfying.
The cast was marvelous, everyone was so good. Just when I was thinking, oh, this actor/actress takes the crown, someone else had a great scene and stole the show again. I did shed tears several times, and a couple of them were because of the actress who played Princess Nihuang... her tears were so convincing :( The actor for Jingyan was amazing; when he was looking at Mei Changsu! The chemistry wow. The Emperor was so good as well, I mean, everyone was excellent so they each added a layer to their characters so even for the antagonists/villains, you can't hate them.
The music was fine, I didn't love it but they suited the drama, and the OP song specially, + the OP sequence, was excellent (The Untamed has a similar OP sequence). Finally an OP sequence with no spoilers!
There were so many memorable scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat, like ep33 where Jingyan cuts ties with Mei Changsu, or when Nihuang and the Consort Jing confirm Mei Changsu is Xiao Shu, or the battle in ep44.... like WOW, how isn't this drama more popular with the Western? Should have a fandom as big as GOT.
I also love the fact that the women in this drama are strong and intelligent and no one is a bitchy just because. If they are (like the mother of the Crown Prince at the beginning) is because of thirst for power, not because of jealousy or love or other silly reason like in xianxias.
I admit that the last 2 episodes are a bit underwhelming, so that makes 21episodes out of 54 where I wasn't too impressed. But nevertheless this was an amazing drama that doesn't deserve anything else below a 10 star rating.
**My rating: 10/10**