Nirvana In Fire 2 Review – The Wind Blows In Chang Lin

It is hard not to continue on with Nirvana In Fire 2 (琅琊榜之风起长林) after the excitement of the first season. It has a different set of people and story which means a looser connection to the original. But more importantly is it as good as the prequel? After all, there is another 50 episodes to sit through after the initial 54 episodes. That is a hefty time investment for a viewer. I guess a comparison is inevitable but let’s also take a look at it as a stand alone drama in this Nirvana In Fire 2 review below.

My rating: 8.5/10
Episodes: 50
Type: Wuxia, Palace
Aired: December 2017
Images Credit: Viki

The Cast Of Nirvana In Fire 2 (2017)

• Huang Xiao Ming as Xiao Ping Zhang
• Liu Hao Ran as Xiao Ping Jing
• Tong Li Ya as Meng Qian Xue / Xiao Xue
• Zhang Hui Wen as Lin Xi
• Wu Hao Chen as Xiao Yuan Qi
• Sun Chun as Xiao Ting Sheng / Grand Prince Of Chang Lin
• Jaco Zhang Bo as Xun Fei Zhan
• Guo Jing Fei as Pu Yang Ying
• Xing Min Shan as Duan Tong Zhou
• Cheng Tai Shen as Marquis Mozi
• Liu Jun as Emperor
• Mei Ting as Empress Xun
• Bi Yan Jun as Xun Bai Shui
• Chen Mu Yang as General Di Ming
• Jin Ze Hao as General Yue Yin Chuan
• Qiao Xin as Xun An Ru
• Hu Xianxu as Xiao Yuan Shi

Main Characters

Xiao Ping Zhang

Ping Zhang s the eldest son of Ting Sheng and heir to the House of Chang Lin which is a military family. He is the Deputy Commander of the Chang Lin Army which is a very large and powerful army guarding the Norther border of the Liang kingdom. Ping Zhang is a smart, calm, and respected commander and nobleman. He is married to Xiao Xue.

Xiao Ping Jing

Ping Jing is Ping Zhang’s younger brother. He spends his time in Langya Court in the mountains under the tutelage of Old Master Lin Chen. Ping Jing is young and immature but street smart. He has a sharp and observant mind despite his impatience and brash personality. He also likes to lead a carefree and unrestrained life. Ping Jing looks up a lot to his elder brother and they share a very close bond as siblings.

Supporting Characters

Meng Qian Xue / Xiao Xue

Xiao Xue is Ping Zhang’s wife. They have been married for 7 years but still childless. However, they are a very loving couple. Xiao Xue has martial arts skills and trained under her granduncle. Fei Zhan is her disciple brother.

Lin Xi

Lin Xi is a talented physician who trained under Old Master Li of Ji Feng Hall. She is a very reserved lady who rarely smiles. Both her parents died while she was still very young and Old Master Li took her in as his apprentice. Old Master Li is a friend of Ting Sheng as he used to be a doctor for the Chang Lin Army.

Xiao Yuan Qi

Yuan Qi is the Marquis of Lai Yang. He is the Emperor’s nephew and deemed an idle prince. He is ambitious and wants to be useful but his mother prefers him to stay out of the limelight. His father was a rebel prince who was executed.

Xiao Ting Sheng

Ting Sheng is the Grand Prince of Chang Lin and Commander of the Chang Lin Army. He is the Emperor’s adoptive elder brother and enjoys his complete trust. They simply care for one another. Ting Sheng is a military man who keeps himself away from the administrative affairs of the country as he understands the sensitivity towards his immense power. He is a true gentleman who is loyal to the Emperor. He has 2 sons, Ping Zhang and Ping Jing.

Xun Fei Zhan

Fei Zhan is the Commander of the Imperial Jin Guards. He is in charge of the safety of the Emperor and the palace. He is good in martial arts and used to train under the same master as Xiao Xue. Fei Zhan is a principled man who cares for the truth. His uncle is Senior Grand Secretary Xun Bai Shui while his aunt is the Empress. An Ru is his cousin.

Pu Yang Ying

Pu Yang Ying is a priest who serves Empress Xun. He offers predictions and warnings on bad omens. He is a sinister man with his own agenda.

Duan Tong Zhou

Duan Tong Zhou is the personal assistant of Grand Secretary Song Fu and a secret follower of Pu Yang Ying. He is one of the top martial artists in the pugilist world.

Marquis Mozi

Marquis Mozi is a reclusive royal family member of Dong Hai which is a much weaker neighboring state of Liang kingdom. He has great martial art skills and has a hidden plan to make Dong Hai strong again. He is the elder brother of the late Imperial Consort Shu and Yuan Qi’s mother, Dowager Lai Yang.

Emperor

The Emperor of the Liang kingdom is a responsible and capable ruler but sickly. He is very close to his adoptive younger brother, Ting Sheng, and would listen to his views. He also has strong affections for Ting Sheng’s sons.

Empress Xun

Empress Xun is the mother of the Crown Prince. She is a superstitious woman who likes to listen to the advice of Pu Yang Ying. She is also a jealous and petty woman with a disdain towards the House of Chang Lin because of their powers. Fei Zhan is her nephew while Xun Bai Shui is her elder brother.

Xun Bai Shui

Xun Bai Shui is the Senior Grand Secretary and Head of Cabinet of the Liang kingdom. He is loyal to the Emperor and country but highly suspicious of the House of Chang Lin and their intentions. He is always afraid that Ting Sheng or his descendants might rebel and schemes to get them out of the way. Empress Xun is his sister. He also brought up Fei Zhan who is his nephew since he has no children of his own.

General Di Ming & General Yue Yin Chuan

Both of these men have helped the Liang kingdom to recapture some prefectures from Dong Hai during a war on the Eastern border. Hence, they are summoned to the capital to meet the Emperor for due recognition. They are both capable military commanders.

Xun An Ru

An Ru is Empress Xun’s favorite niece and Fei Zhan’s cousin sister. She is also being looked after by Xun Bai Shui and his wife. An Ru is a softhearted and kind lady despite her nobility.

Xiao Yuan Shi

Yuan Shi is the Crown Prince and the Emperor and Empress Xun’s son. He is only 10 years old and is close to Ping Jing.

NIF1 & NIF2: Relationship Between The Characters

Xiao Ting Sheng & The Emperor

Ting Sheng is actually Prince Qi’s son. Prince Qi was the Crown Prince at one time but was framed for being a rebel and executed by his own father. Hence, Ting Sheng was born in the palace prison through the help of his royal uncle, Prince Ji (the younger brother of the then Emperor). His identity was kept a secret to ensure his survival. So, Ting Sheng was a palace slave when he was a young boy.

Prince Jing was Prince Qi’s younger half-brother and would quietly keep a look out for his nephew. But he couldn’t do anything much for him due to the need to keep Ting Sheng’s identity a secret until Lin Shu’s scheming successfully freed him as a slave together with 2 other boys. Prince Jing subsequently adopted Ting Sheng to give him a princely status as there was no evidence to officially acknowledge him as Prince Qi’s son. He also never told Ting Sheng his real identity because he wanted him to lead a life free of hatred.

This also explains why Ting Sheng is very close to the current Emperor in NIF2 who is Prince Jing’s son. They grew up together during Prince Jing’s reign as Emperor Wu Jing.

Xiao Xue & Xun Fei Zhan

Both of them were fellow disciples of Meng Zhi who was the Commander of the Imperial Guards in NIF1. Meng Zhi was also Xiao Xue’s granduncle. He was one of the top martial artist of his time.

Lu Yuan & Lin Shen

These 2 men were the slaves who were freed together with Ting Sheng through Lin Shu’s maneuverings in NIF1. They ended up as sworn brothers and served in the military together. Both of them have died but left behind descendants which will be explained in the spoilers section below.

Synopsis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIa6AoHKUY8&ab_channel=YoYoSpanishChannel

Xiao Ting Sheng is the adopted son of the previous Emperor of Liang Empire. He grew up together with the current Emperor and they share a very close bond as siblings. The Emperor has complete trust in Xiao Ting Sheng and would always listen to his views. Hence, Xiao Ting Sheng is a very influential and powerful man in the royal court as he also controls the Chang Lin Army.

Due to his power, the cabinet ministers and the Empress are uneasy over his control over the Emperor. They are afraid he or his sons may grab the throne as the Crown Prince is still a young boy. At best, the Crown Prince would end up being dependent on the House of Chang Lin. At the same time, the Empress is a superstitious woman who believes in High Priest Pu Yan Ying’s predictions.

Pu Yan Ying is a man hell bent on revenge and together with other parties who each have their own motivation to bring down the House of Chang Lin, they collude to create trouble for the Liang Empire.

Nirvana In Fire 2 Ending (Spoilers Alert!)

Nirvana In Fire 2 has a happy ending. Ping Jing reunites with Lin Xi who is waiting for him when he decides to leave the capital after successfully saving Emperor Yuan Shi and stopping a coup. He doesn’t want to remain in the government and re-open the House of Chang Lin despite Emperor Yuan Shi’s request. But he is happy that Emperor Yuan Shi has renamed the Norther border army back to Chang Lin Army. To him, what is important is the spirit behind the name rather than the Commander.

Ping Jing also realizes that he shouldn’t live his elder brother’s life but his own. He has always been a carefree person at heart and wants to remain that way. That is why he chooses to leave.

Ping Zhang’s Identity

Ping Zhang is actually Lu Yuan’s son. He found out he was adopted right at the beginning of Episode 1 although this was not revealed to the viewer. Ping Zhang tells Ping Jing about his status in Episode 12 following the poisoning of Xiao Xue to stop her from conceiving. The family’s old butler knew about the poisoning but kept quiet because he didn’t want Ping Zhang to have descendants and inherit the House of Chang Lin since he was adopted.

Lu Yuan was Ting Sheng’s sworn elder brother. He was also the Left Flank Grand General of the Chang Lin Army. But Lu Yuan colluded with Yuan Qi’s father due to greed and became a traitor. He turned around at the last minute to report Yuan Qi’s father to Ting Sheng and then committed suicide. Lu Yuan left behind Ping Zhang who was only a few years old then. Ting Sheng adopted him and made him his eldest son. He narrated this to Ping Zhang in Episode 19.

Lin Xi’s Identity

She is Lin Shen’s daughter. Lin Shen is also Ting Sheng’s sworn brother and they went to war together. He was severely injured in a battle and before he died, they agreed to a betrothal arrangement for their children. But Lin Xi’s mother was unwilling to let her daughter to marry a soldier as she was afraid Lin Xi would experience the same loss like she did.

So, although Lin Xi knew Ping Jing is her fiancee when they met, she kept quiet about her identity. Ting Sheng and Ping Zhang could guess who she is but they respected her choice and didn’t question her. Lin Xi only tells Ping Jing her identity in Episode 43. By then, they are already in love with each other.

Yuan Qi’s Background

Yuan Qi’s father was the younger brother of the current Emperor. He became a traitor because he wanted the throne. He colluded with Lu Yuan but when he wanted to kill some witnesses to their crimes, Lu Yuan’s conscience made him report their wrongdoings to Ting Sheng. So, Ting Sheng exposed the crimes, the Emperor (then Crown Prince) oversaw the investigation, and their father (Emperor Wu Jing) ordered the execution.

Hence, Yuan Qi’s mother hated them all but kept the hatred buried in her heart. She could only resort to voodoo practices to curse the Emperor through Pu Yang Ying’s help. She also poisoned Xiao Xue so that the House of Chang Lin has no descendants. But when the pregnant Imperial Consort Shu found out what she did, Yuan Qi’s mother poisoned her as well which resulted in the consort’s death although they were both sisters from the Dong Hai royal family.

Marquis Mozi then killed Yuan Qi’s mother as revenge for Imperial Consort Shu’s death in Episode 12. Before killing her, Marquis Mozi and Pu Yang Ying forced her to leave a letter for Yuan Qi detailing that the Emperor and Ting Sheng caused his father’s death.

What Happened To Yuan Qi

Yuan Qi was ordered to be killed by Emperor Yuan Shi after his rebellion failed in Episode 50. He was personally guarding Emperor Yuan Shi until his wife, An Ru, committed suicide. Hence, he was forced to leave his post which gave a chance for Ping Jing and Fei Zhan to get Emperor Yuan Shi to safety. Once the Emperor is saved, the Chang Lin Army could then storm the palace to corner Yuan Qi who also lost the final duel with Ping Jing.

Due to his tragic background of being a criminal’s son, Yuan Qi felt abandoned and has a lot of resentment. He refused to end up as a pawn after what happened to his mother. Pu Yang Ying also told Yuan Qi in Episode 19 that Ping Zhang’s biological father was Lu Yuan who betrayed his father.

Yuan Qi then made a long term plan to collude with Pu Yang Ying and Marquis Mozi to usurp power step by step. Then, once he gained the throne, he would attack Dong Hai and Marquis Mozi for killing his mother. Yuan Qi saw the downfall of the House of Chang Lin and surmised that a lack of desire for the throne was their mistake which he didn’t want to emulate.

Pu Yang Ying’s Background

Pu Yang Ying was from Ye Qin which is a vassal state of the Liang kingdom. He and his younger brother were selected to be students at the prestigious Ye Ling Royal Academy. However, he failed the test to be a disciple of the Ye Ling Sect while his brother succeeded.

During a pandemic, his mother saved the last pill for his brother instead of him which turned him into a cynic when it comes to familial ties. Then, the Chang Lin Army sealed off the city which caused untold suffering and the state to collapse. This is why Pu Yang Ying hated Ping Zhang and wanted him dead.

Pu Yang Ying also killed his younger brother to get the Ye Ling Sect’s badge to enable him to control its disciples. He used its network to get his revenge over Ping Zhang and the Liang kingdom. Pu Yang Ying was killed by Yuan Qi in Episode 26. He was caught after setting a trap to poison Ping Zhang. Yuan Qi got the evidence on Empress Xun’s complicity in the pandemic case from Pu Yang Ying before killing him.

Other Key Events

• Yuan Qi killed his loyal servant, Uncle Tai, because he thought the servant was Pu Yang Ying’s follower in Episode 22.
• Sister Yun of Ji Feng Hall slashed Ping Jing with a poisoned blade in Episode 23 on Pu Yang Ying’s orders.
• Ping Zhang saved the poisoned Ping Jing with a blood transfusion in Episode 26. It was the only way for him to recover quickly to rush to the border to save his father who was under attack there. But the blood transfusion left him with only weeks to live.
• Ping Zhang died because of the blood transfusion in Episode 27. Xiao Xue was pregnant and subsequently has a son, Ce’er.
• The ill Emperor died in Episode 28. He decreed Ting Sheng to be the Crown Prince’s advisor on his deathbed to protect Ting Sheng from political maneuverings after his death.
• The Crown Prince ascended the throne in Episode 29.
• Ping Jing defied the royal decree to stop a war during the mourning period in Episode 34.
• Ting Sheng died due to old age and stress in Episode 37.
• Ping Jing was removed from military command for his defiance in Episode 37. The Chang Lin Army was renamed.
• Yuan Qi married An Ru in Episode 39 following his (fake) triumph over Dong Hai.
• An Ru’s maid, Pei’er, survived a forced suicide in Episode 42 after she overheard Yuan Qi’s collusion with Dong Hai’s Madam Qi.
• Madam Qi killed Xun Bai Shui who was going to report Yuan Qi’s traitorous act in Episode 44. An Ru miscarried upon hearing the news.
• Yuan Qi burnt Madam Qi to death in Episode 45.
• Empress Xun was beheaded by General Di Ming in Episode 47 during the rebellion.
• An Ru committed suicide in Episode 48 for what Yuan Qi had done.

Nirvana In Fire 2 Review – Different From NIF1

Nirvana In Fire 2 is a completely different story compared to the first season. It is the story of the younger generation about 50 to 60 years later with some connections to the main characters in the prequel. The drama focuses on the deep family bond of Ting Sheng and his sons and the rise and fall of the House of Chang Lin. There is the usual palace politics and power struggle but it takes a different leaning compared to Season 1. This is because the strategies and mind games that define the earlier season are missing from the sequel.

This doesn’t mean Nirvana In Fire 2 is a failure. It is not and is definitely worth a watch. Nirvana In Fire 1 relies on a brilliant strategist to carry the show. It talks about brotherhood and friendship as well as righting a wrong. Essentially, you will be awed by the brilliance of the strategist, Lin Shu. It has a very tight focus as Lin Shu schemes step by step to achieve justice for his family’s army.

In Nirvana In Fire 2, you will be moved by siblings love and loyalty and a grand prince’s righteousness instead. Unlike the first season, it doesn’t start with an end goal of justice in mind. It is more like Ping Jing’s journey through life as different parties try to bring down the House of Chang Lin and how it affects him and influences his life decisions. Hence, Nirvana In Fire 2 is heavier on the emotions as you watch due to the strong family ties compared to the prequel. It also has a slightly stronger wuxia element with better and more fighting scenes.

Must You Watch NIF1 First?

You can watch Nirvana in Fire 2 without watching the first season. You would be able to understand the story because it is not a continuation of the prequel. There are references to it but they are not crucial to the overall story. It is just some snippets of how some of the characters are related to one another.

Having said that, I would still recommend that you sit through Nirvana In Fire 1 first before watching the second season. This is because the prequel will make you more emotionally invested in the story. For instance, you will feel the ache more when the Chang Lin Army name is replaced at some point in the sequel because its significance is deeply rooted in Season 1. It is like One And Only and its sequel, Forever And Ever, whereby the first season would prime you up emotionally for the second.

A Palace Politics Plot

Basically, Nirvana In Fire 2 also has a palace politics plot. But the difference is the people at the receiving end of the scheming have no intention of playing politics nor desire wealth and power. Therefore, the story takes a different tack from the usual. It doesn’t go down the route of plotting and counter-plotting like Stand By Me but what happens to the protagonists and how they resolve the problems created after the political maneuvers.

I can’t detect any plot holes either and the reasons for all the political maneuverings are logical. The villain’s motivations are understandable and make sense. There is depth to his story and he did not simply start off as evil.

Just like the prequel, there is some romance in Nirvana In Fire 2 but it doesn’t take up much screen time. The romance is just on the periphery to link to a past event. There are no kisses in the entire 50 episodes either. Therefore, skip this if you are looking for romance as it is only a tiny bit of the entire production.

Patience Needed For Character Growth

Ping Jing may not be a very likable character for some in the beginning. He is rash and immature to the point of being annoying at times. But you will need to give him time to grow. After all, this drama details his journey through life and you will see him mature at some point in the drama. Similarly, Lin Xi’s character is also difficult for viewers to have fondness for. It takes some time to get used to her sulking ways, if at all. But fortunately, she doesn’t appear too often in the drama.

I also feel Liu Hao Ran who plays Ping Jing also deserves applause for his convincing portrayal. He was very young when this was filmed but it also means he fit the role perfectly as Ping Jing is an immature character for at least half of the drama. Hence, his looks and mannerisms are consistent with the character’s age and personality. But the actor also surprised me when he needs to play a more matured Ping Jing in the later part of the drama. His mannerisms become more subdued as he wears a more measured facial expression to fit the character’s growth.

Huang Xiao Ming actually has a lesser role as Ping Zhang compared to Liu Hao Ran. But he still gives off a commanding screen presence as the ever responsible son and brother as well as military commander. Last but not least, Sun Chun is also ideally cast as Ting Sheng. He brings out the character’s grace and regality without any exaggeration which is great to watch.

My Verdict – Go For It!

I wasn’t expecting Nirvana In Fire 2 to be that good as most spin-offs tend to be worse off than the original. But somehow, the producers managed to make it into something worth watching and almost as good as the first season. Personally, I still prefer the prequel because the politics and strategies are simply awesome. It is a better executed drama with a very riveting storyline. Simply put, if you like mind games and palace intrigues, Nirvana In Fire 1 would be a better production. But if you prefer more emotional upheaval and a more realistic story of family bonds, then Nirvana In Fire 2 would be a better fit.

So, a word of warning is that you will need tissues to get over some of the sad scenes in certain episodes. But it is not a dark and depressive type of drama like Royal Nirvana. It simply brings you on an emotional rollercoaster as you follow the ups and downs of the protagonists. There are also plenty of warm moments as you can feel the love and strong bonds between some of the characters. So, don’t let the sadness stop you from watching because the drama is not just about the tragic moments.

Apart from that, this is also a male dominated drama just like its predecessor. The women are mainly reduced to being supporting cast unlike The Long Ballad and Song Of Youth where you have a strong female character taking the lead. Hence, don’t expect the female leads to share the same limelight here.

Overall, I would give this Nirvana In Fire 2 review a score of 8.5/10. It is a drama with very consistent pacing throughout but the ending could certainly be better. It is an acceptable ending but not a highly satisfactory one emotionally after such a gripping story. But the bottom line is NIF2 is not a drama to be missed!