Nirvana In Fire Season 1 Review

Nirvana In Fire Season 1 (琅琊榜) was released back in 2015. I was looking for something different after getting bored of all those typical romance dramas. The last rom-com that I watched was Once We Get Married which is yet another contract marriage story. So, I was kind of desperate for a masterpiece for a change that I started looking for highly rated older productions that I have missed in the past. And I’m glad that I ended up watching this one. My Nirvana In Fire Season 1 review below will reveal the reasons why.

My rating: 9/10
Episodes: 54
Type: Wuxia, Palace
Aired: September 2015
Images Credit: Viki

The Cast Of Nirvana In Fire 2015

• Hu Ge as Mei Chang Su / Su Zhe / Lin Shu
• Wang Kai as Xiao Jing Yan / Prince Jing
• Victor Huang Wei De as Xiao Jing Huan / Prince Yu
• Gao Xin as Xiao Jing Xuan / Crown Prince Xian
• Liu Tao as Princess Mu Ni Huang
• Leo Wu Lei as Fei Liu
• Ding Yong Dai as Emperor Xiao Xian
• Yang Yu Ting as Noble Consort Yue
• Liu Min Tao as Concubine Jing
• Fang Xiao Li as Empress Yan
• Ning Wen Tong as Prince Ji
• Chen Long as Meng Zhi
• Wang Jin Song as Marquis Yan Que
• Liu Yijun as Marquis Xie Yu
• Zhang Yan Yan as Princess Li Yang
• Cheng Hao Feng as Xiao Jing Rui
• Guo Xiao Ran as Yan Yu Jin
• Zhang Ling Xin as Xia Dong
• Wang Yong Quan as Xia Jiang
• Wang Ou as Qin Ban Ruo
• Liu Hao Ming as Zhuo Ding Feng
• Jin Dong as Lin Chen
• Zhang Xiao Qian as Prince Mu Qing
• Wei Wei as Tong Lu
• Zhou Qi Qi as Gong Yu

Main Characters

Mei Chang Su / Su Zhe / Lin Shu

Mei Chang Su is a renowned scholar and Chief of the Jiang Zuo Alliance which is the largest sect in the martial arts world. He is famous for his insights and is a brilliant strategist but suffers from ill health. He is calm, regal, and sharp.

Mei Chang Su is actually an assumed identity. 12 years ago, he was Lin Shu. He was the Young Marshal of the Chiyan Army and his father was Marshal Lin Xie who died during a battle at Mei Ling Mountains. The whole army was accused of rebelling and thus, Lin Shu was forced to go underground. He was also presumed dead. His mother was Princess Jin Yang and she committed suicide following the incident. Princess Jin Yang and the Emperor were siblings.

Mei Chang Su’s subordinates include Li Gang and Zhen Ping who were also soldiers of the Chiyan Army. His spy network is headed by Sir Shi San.

Xiao Jing Yan / Prince Jing & Concubine Jing

Prince Jing is the 7th son of the Emperor. He is a stubborn and straightforward man who hates political schemings. He is highly principled who values friendship and justice. Prince Jing was close to his late eldest brother, Prince Qi, and holds him in high regard although Prince Qi has been deemed a rebel and executed. As such, Prince Jing is an unfavored lowly ranked prince especially with his direct character and lack of political acumen.

Concubine Jing is Prince Jing’s mother. She is an unnoticed low ranked concubine in the inner palace. She is a physician by training and has a calm and patient personality. Concubine Jing is a clever and an astute woman who knows how to read the situation at hand. She is a supportive mother and has a kind heart.

Xiao Jing Huan / Prince Yu & Empress Yan

Prince Yu is Prince Jing’s elder half-brother. He is a capable man and highly ambitious with an eye on the throne. He is one of the Emperor’s favored sons. But he is also ruthless and corrupt in his quest for power. His biological mother was Concubine Xiang but little is known about her background.

Empress Yan is Prince Yu’s adoptive mother. She has no sons of her own and adopted Prince Yu after the death of his biological mother. Empress Yan is a bully and will take advantage of her position to further the interest of her adopted son in the fight for the throne.

Xiao Jing Xuan / Crown Prince Xian & Noble Consort Yue

Crown Prince Xian is the anointed heir to the throne but his position is not exactly secure due to Prince Yu’s influence. The half-brothers have been fighting for the throne for a long time. Crown Prince Xian is equally corrupt and cruel.

Noble Consort Yue is Crown Prince Xian’s mother. She is the Emperor’s favorite consort and would use her position to help her son. She is a snob with powers to match Empress Yan due to her son’s Crown Prince position as well as the Emperor’s fondness for her.

Supporting Characters

Princess Mu Ni Huang & Prince Mu Qing

Princess Ni Huang is well-known for her martial arts skills. She is also a skilled military commander who has been successfully guarding the Liang kingdom’s southern border with her strong army. She belongs to the House of Mu. Princess Ni Huang is betrothed to Lin Shu who is presumed dead. Both of them are childhood friends.

Prince Mu Qing is Princess Ni Huang’s younger brother and heir to the House of Mu. He is still young and playful but will obediently listen to his sister. They share a close bond.

Fei Liu

Fei Liu is Mei Chang Su’s bodyguard. He is young but has great martial arts skills. He is very fond of Mei Chang Su who treats him like a younger brother. Fei Liu has communication problems and behaves like a child at times but is extremely loyal and protective of Mei Chang Su.

Emperor Xiao Xian

The Emperor is the ruler of Liang kingdom. He is a shrewd man with a very suspicious mind. He can be very cold-hearted when it comes to protecting his throne. His siblings include Prince Ji, Princess Jin Yang (Lin Shu’s mother), and Princess Li Yang. This means Lin Shu is the Emperor’s nephew.

Prince Ji

Prince Ji is the Emperor’s younger brother. He is a playful man who simply likes having a good time with no ambitions for power. He is also kind at heart who values family ties.

Meng Zhi

Meng Zhi is the Imperial Guards Commander. He is a skilled martial artist and has the trust of the Emperor. Meng Zhi has a simple mind but is highly principled and a loyal friend. He is one of the very few who knows Mei Chang Su is Lin Shu as they are old friends.

Yan Yu Jin & Marquis Yan Que

Yu Jin comes from an aristocrat family. His mother died early and he is very much left to his own devices. Yu Jin is a cheerful and talkative young man. He is friends with Mei Chang Su through his best friend, Jing Rui.

Marquis Yan Que is Yu Jin’s father. He is a man who appears to have lost interests in worldly affairs but has a sharp mind. He spends most of his time away from home at the temple.

Marquis Xie Yu & Princess Li Yang

Marquis Xie Yu is an influential and a powerful minister. He appears to be neutral in the fight between Crown Prince Xian and Prince Yu for the throne. However, he is actually a devious man and a secret ally of the Crown Prince.

Princess Li Yang is Marquis Xie Yu’s wife. She is largely unaware and uninterested of palace politics. Princess Li Yang is also the Emperor’s sister. She has 2 sons, Jing Rui and Xie Bi, as well as a daughter, Qi’er.

Xiao Jing Rui & Zhuo Ding Feng

Jing Rui is a skilled swordsman who spends his time in the pugilist world and ends up being a good friend of Mei Chang Su. He is also Yu Jin’s best friend. Jing Rui has 2 sets of parents due to a chaotic situation during his birth. Princess Li Yang and Mrs. Zhuo gave birth at about the same time at the same place but one of the newborns died moments later during a heavy thunderstorm. As they didn’t know whose baby died, the Emperor came up with the solution of joint custody. Hence, Jing Rui is a son of both Marquis Xie Yu and Zhuo Ding Feng.

Zhuo Ding Feng is the head of the Zhuo clan and Tian Quan Manor which is a reputable martial arts sect. He has developed a close relationship with Marquis Xie Yu over the years since they have a shared son. He also has another son, Zhuo Qing Yao, who is married to Marquis Xie Yu’s daughter which further cemented their family relationship. Zhuo Ding Feng is a skilled martial arts practitioner who is ranked among the top of the list.

Xia Dong & Xia Jiang

Xia Dong is an officer at the Xuan Jing Bureau which is directly under the control of the Emperor. The bureau’s duty is to investigate criminal activities and other matters as ordered. Xia Dong is a capable officer whose only interest is to do her job and not getting involved in palace politics. Her husband was General Nie Feng of the Chiyan Army who was reportedly killed by Marshal Lin Xie. Xia Dong and Princess Ni Huang are best friends.

Xia Jiang is Xia Dong’s master and Director of the Xuan Jing Bureau. He has the Emperor’s trust and a reputation for being neutral. But he hides a personal agenda and a ruthless personality.

Qin Ban Ruo

Ban Ruo is Prince Yu’s counselor and strategist. She is from the Hua Tribe whose kingdom has been taken over by the Liang kingdom after a war although both peoples are now considered unified. Ban Ruo is pretty and clever. She runs a network of spies to gather intel for the prince. Her master was Princess Xuan Ji who was a royal member of the Hua Tribe. Jun Niang is Ban Ruo’s compatriot and used to be a fellow spy.

Lin Chen

Lin Chen is a physician and the young master of Lang Ya Hall which is a unique organization that offers cryptic tips and pointers for those who seek guidance for their problems. He is also Mei Chang Su’s good friend and doctor. Their fathers also shared a great friendship. Lin Chen is playful and a tease.

Tong Lu & Gong Yu

Tong Lu and Gong Yu are Mei Chang Su’s spies working under Sir Shi San. Gong Yu is a sought after musician in an entertainment club. She cares about Mei Chang Su and is always eager to see him. Tong Lu works as a vegetables deliveryman as a camouflage to relay messages to Mei Chang Su.

Synopsis

Lin Shu was the young marshal and son of the Chiyan Army Commander, Lin Xie. The Chiyan Army was strong and powerful which the Emperor saw as a threat. When Lin Xie was accused of rebelling, the whole army was massacred during a battle. The Lin family and Prince Qi were executed. Only Lin Shu survived when his father pushed him off a cliff and asked him to hang on to life during the battle.

12 years later, Lin Shu has taken on a new identity and appearance. He is now Mei Chang Su and chief of a pugilist alliance. He has lost his martial art powers and is now a weak man. But he has become a renowned scholar and strategist.

In the palace, 2 princes are fighting for the throne. The Crown Prince and Prince Yu are engage in a bitter feud to be the heir. They are both corrupt and ruthless in their quest to be the next ruler. Due to Mei Chang Su’s insightful mind, both the Crown Prince and Prince Yu are eager to recruit him to be in their camp. While Mei Chang Su appears to be helping Prince Yu, he is secretly scheming to propel the unfavored Prince Jing to the throne.

Mei Chang Su’s aim is to clear the name of the Chiyan Army and rid the government of corrupt and self-serving ministers. He begins to take down the Crown Prince’s and Prince Yu’s ministers one by one. As the fight intensifies, the stakes are high and so are the risks.

Nirvana In Fire Season 1 Ending (Spoilers Alert!)

Nirvana In Fire Season 1 has a sad ending. Lin Shu dies in the end as expected. He has always been sickly due to the bitter flame poison that has ravaged his body after the battle at Mei Ling Mountains. Lin Shu insisted to join the war against neighboring countries even though he only had 3 months left to live as he felt that the battleground is where he belonged and that he still had work to do. Before he parted with Princess Ni Huang, he promised that they will grow old together in their next life.

There is no scene that shows Lin Shu dying. Instead, viewers will only see news of his death reaching Princess Ni Huang and Prince Jing. But the sadness is tempered with some happiness in the last few scenes of the drama. It shows a few years later when Prince Jing is already the Emperor. He has already adopted Ting Sheng and has a young son who regards Ting Sheng as his brother. In the last scene, Prince Jing named a newly reorganized army the Chang Lin Army as a tribute to Lin Shu.

What Happened To The Chiyan Army?

The Chiyan Army was massacred by Xia Jiang and Marquis Xie Yu’s soldiers at Mei Ling Mountains. Xia Jiang and Marquis Xie Yu framed Marshal Lin Xie for planning a rebellion. Xia Jiang got Li Chong Xin to imitate General Nie Feng’s handwriting to claim that Marshal Lin Xie is about to rebel in a letter. General Nie Feng was Marshal Lin Xie’s subordinate. Then, General Nie Feng was reportedly killed by the marshal for being against the rebellion. Together with the forged letter, the Emperor then ordered the Chiyan Army to be massacred.

Li Chong Xin was also killed as a precaution. This is revealed in Episode 23 after Marquis Xie Yu was imprisoned for his crimes. This is also when Xia Dong finally learned what happened to General Nie Feng who is her husband.

The Chiyan Army was massacred when they were exhausted after a hard fought battle with the Great Yu kingdom. On the way back, they were cornered and then killed with poisonous flames. The 70,000 soldiers died at the hands of their own people without knowing what was happening. Xia Jiang and Marquis Xie Yu sealed off all information and petitions to the Emperor and even claimed credit for the defeat of the Great Yu kingdom.

The whole story was related by Wei Zheng to Prince Jing in Episode 42. Wei Zheng was a lieutenant in the Chiyan Army. He escaped the massacre because he was sent out by Lin Shu to check what happened to General Nie Feng who failed to arrive with reinforcements.

Why Was Prince Qi Executed?

Prince Qi was the Emperor’s eldest son with Noble Consort Chen from the Lin family. He was a charismatic and principled man who often clashed with his father on political matters. Prince Qi also had the support of the court officials and the army which worries the Emperor. He was framed by Xia Jiang and Marquis Xie Yu for instigating the Chiyan Army to rebel. Thus, his own father ordered him and his family to be executed. Xia Jiang wanted Prince Qi out of the way because the prince wanted the Xuan Jing Bureau to be abolished and the investigative powers centralized in the justice courts.

Noble Consort Chen committed suicide by hanging herself following her son’s execution. Prince Qi left behind a son, Ting Sheng, who was born in the palace prison. The kind-hearted Prince Ji was the one who ensured Ting Sheng survived. Prince Jing would look out for Ting Sheng but the latter’s identity has to be kept a secret. Through Lin Shu’s scheming, they managed to free Ting Sheng from being a palace slave. Ting Sheng was subsequently adopted by Prince Jing to give him some status although they never did reveal his background to him to ensure he lives a happy life without hatred.

Marquis Xie Yu’s Fate

Marquis Xie Yu died in exile and news of his death reached the capital in Episode 51. His crimes were exposed in Episode 20. Marquis Xie Yu simply wanted military power and conspired to bring down Marshal Lin Xie and the Chiyan Army. He then aligned himself with Crown Prince Xian.

Lin Shu arranged for Gong Yu to expose how Marquis Xie Yu killed Zhuo Ding Feng’s newborn son. The marquis actually hired Gong Yu’s father to kill Jing Rui. But Gong Yu’s father mistakenly killed Zhuo Ding Feng’s son instead. His conscience stopped him from killing another baby as ordered. As a result, he was subsequently hunted down and killed by Marquis Xie Yu which prompted Gong Yu’s revenge.

Marquis Xie Yu wanted to kill Jing Rui because he is not his son. Princess Li Yang had an affair with a hostage prince from Southern Chu before she was forced to marry Marquis Xie Yu by her mother. When the plan failed, Marquis Xie Yu realized that keeping Jing Rui alive would enable him to develop family ties with Zhuo Ding Feng instead. He would then use Zhuo Ding Feng to do his dirty work.

With his crime exposed, Marquis Xie Yu was arrested and imprisoned. Before he was exiled, he wrote a confession letter about his crimes relating to the Chiyan Army massacre which was kept by Princess Li Yang. Lin Shu advised him to do so as Xia Jiang would want him dead to stop him from talking.

Xia Jiang’s Fate

Xia Jiang was arrested and imprisoned while awaiting execution in Episode 49. He couldn’t fully convinced the Emperor that Mei Chang Su is Lin Shu and has lost the Emperor’s trust earlier when he colluded with Prince Yu to try to bring down Prince Jing. Xia Jiang did not want Prince Jing to be the heir because the latter would reopen the Chiyan Army massacre case if he were to come to power.

Xia Jiang’s secret lover was the late Princess Xuan Ji of the Hua Tribe. He even abandoned his wife and son for her. Princess Xuan Ji also had an axe to grind with the Chiyan Army because they defeated the Hua Tribe and absorbed them into the Liang kingdom.

What Happened To Prince Yu?

Prince Yu was ready to give up the fight for the throne after he was demoted for exploding an illegal fireworks factory belonging to Crown Prince Xian. But when he found out from Ban Ruo that his biological mother, Concubine Xiang, was actually Princess Ling Long of the Hua Tribe, he became agitated and rebelled. Princess Ling Long was made used of by the Emperor to help him grab the throne.

After his ascension, the Hua Tribe was accused of rebelling against the Liang kingdom. The Emperor sent in the Chiyan Army to destroy the Hua Tribe and their royal family. Princess Ling Long was killed to ensure his secret was not exposed. Only her sister, Princess Xuan Ji, survived.

Prince Yu convinced Empress Yan to cooperate to rebel during the Emperor’s hunting trip in Episode 43. But he did not succeed and was arrested. He committed suicide in prison and left a note for the Emperor to spare his pregnant wife and unborn child. Lin Shu arranged with Meng Zhi for Prince Yu’s wife to escape from prison and leave Liang kingdom for her own safety. The Emperor was made to believe that the prince’s wife committed suicide along with her husband.

Was The Chiyan Army Vindicated?

Yes, the Emperor was forced to agree for the case to be reinvestigated and retried. Princess Li Yang agreed to expose the Chiyan Army case during the Emperor’s birthday banquet in Episode 52. The evidence is Marquis Xie Yu’s confession letter. The Emperor was cornered when all the ministers present supported the motion to have the case reopened. By then, Prince Jing was already the Crown Prince and has full support of the royal court.

The Emperor agreed to the motion on the condition that Lin Shu must leave as he didn’t want to see him again. This is because Lin Shu’s appearance in the royal court would be a reminder that the Emperor made a grave mistake. All along, the Emperor didn’t want the Chiyan Army case to be mentioned at all because it was a mistake and cruelty that would stain his legacy and be recorded in the history books. Lin Shu agreed to the Emperor’s request to leave. A month later, the Chiyan Army and all the related parties have their names cleared after an investigation.

Finding Out Lin Shu’s Identity

Meng Zhi found out that Mei Chang Su is Lin Shu in Episode 3. He already knew Lin Shu is alive much earlier.

Princess Ni Huang learned about his identity in Episode 12. She has suspected earlier due to her woman’s intuition and Lin Shu couldn’t hide it from her.

Concubine Jing also suspected earlier that Mei Chang Su is Lin Shu through his travel notes. She finally met him in Episode 43 and got her confirmation. She was close to the Lin family because they had saved her and her master from bullies in the past. They also sent her to the palace to take care of the sickly Noble Consort Chen and the 2 women were like sisters.

Xia Jiang found out from Ban Ruo that Mei Chang is afflicted with the bitter flame poison in Episode 43. Thus, he could deduced his identity from there.

Xia Dong learned the truth in Episode 48 after her husband, General Nie Feng, was caught in Episode 45. General Nie Feng was also poisoned in the same way and ended up looking like a monster. That was when everyone realized how painful the treatment is and how it could change the victim’s appearance.

The Emperor was told about Lin Shu by Noble Consort Yue in Episode 48. He acknowledged Lin Shu in Episode 53 after he agreed to the request to reopen the Chiyan Army case. Once the ultimate aim was exposed, it was clear who Mei Chang Su is.

Finally, Prince Jing found out his strategist is Lin Shu in Episode 49. He was summoned by the Emperor and heard Xia Jiang’s accusation that Mei Chang Su is Lin Shu. He was shocked because the secret had been kept from him to ensure everyone’s safety.

The Ending For Other Characters

• The Emperor – We are not told what exactly happened to him. But he has lost support of the court when the Chiyan Army case was exposed and was dejected. Before the end of the drama, there was a time jump of a few years and Prince Jing was the Emperor.
• Noble Consort Yue became mentally unstable and was confined in her palace in Episode 52.
• Ban Ruo was captured by Lin Chen and Fei Liu in Episode 47.
• Empress Yan was banished to the temple in Episode 46 after Prince Yu’s rebellion failed.
• Jun Niang sacrificed herself to free Tong Lu in Episode 43. They have developed feelings for each other.
• Tong Lu died to hold off the soldiers to enable Zhen Ping to escape from the city in Episode 43. They needed to send the message out that Prince Yu was rebelling when the Emperor was on a hunting trip.
• Crown Prince Xian was stripped of his title and evicted from the palace to Xian Zhou in Episode 34. This was after he was caught partying during the mourning period of the Grand Empress Dowager in Episode 27.

Nirvana In Fire 1 Review – Palace Politics At Its Finest

Basically, Nirvana In Fire 1 is all about palace politics and power struggle. So, you really need to know how to appreciate political intrigues to enjoy this drama. There are plenty of schemings and counterplots. They may look boring on the surface but the way the story is executed plays a huge impact on its watchability. It is like picking the brain of a brilliant strategist as you watch and this is where I find this title very different from the usual historical dramas.

This production has some action scenes but they are not in the league of a high budget wuxia drama such as Heaven Sword And Dragon Sabre 2019. Instead, the attraction is in the conversations and schemings. Yes, you need to listen or read the subtitles to know what is happening. Therefore, this drama is not for those who are looking for a breezy love story. It is for those who want to watch a good plot and script.

A Plot With Depth

It has been quite some time since I watched a drama with such depth to its plot. The last one arguably would be Stand By Me which is also another historical drama with heavy palace power plays. But Nirvana In Fire Season 1 is better in terms of storytelling and political intrigues. It is also more touching because of what the male protagonist went through.

It holds viewers interest because certain things are held back and only revealed bit by bit. For instance, we do not know what exactly happened to the Chiyan Army until more than 20 episodes in. Even then, we are only given a piece of the puzzle. Hence, you would understand Lin Shu’s persistence to find out the truth which further heightens the anticipation for more to the story.

The schemings and manipulations are nicely done. They are logical and would leave you feeling awed at how something could be twisted and turned around to deceive the villains. Lin Shu’s arguments and mind games are certainly the enjoyable part of the drama. From there, it is clear this is a very well thought-out story if one has the patience for palace dramas.

Good Acting

Everyone did their part well in Nirvana In Fire 1. Even the supporting cast played their roles convincingly. Hu Ge was brilliant in his portrayal of Lin Shu. He gave the character the calmness and confidence needed with his regal manner and facial expression. Lin Shu rarely shows his true emotions but you can feel his torment about the past. Essentially, Hu Ge made Lin Shu looked the part of a strategic thinker with a goal in mind.

Wang Kai was also good as the stubborn and stern-looking Prince Jing. He gave Prince Jing a stoic demeanor which is consistent with his background and princely status. It is also great to watch the teenage Leo Wu as the childish Fei Lu. His talent is already obvious then. His more recent role in The Long Ballad shows how he has matured and could match his more experienced and older co-star.

Little Romance

Nirvana In Fire 2015 is not a romance drama. So, don’t watch it if you want a love story like One And Only. The romance between Lin Shu and Princess Ni Huang is only a very small part of the entire 54 episodes. In fact, the female lead’s screen time is rather limited. She only has a presence in the beginning of the drama and then fades away in the middle before reappearing in some scenes towards the end.

Her role is not really central to the drama but evokes certain emotions in the viewers. It heightens the pain of sacrifice and sense of loss. So, the romance in the drama is only a side dish rather than the meat of the story.

My Verdict – Watch!

Nirvana In Fire 1 is certainly one of the better quality Chinese dramas. From the costumes to the dialogues, everything points to a well-planned and well-executed production. It can be daunting at first when you start watching because of the many characters. You may be confused and the protagonist’s intentions could be vague. But give it a few episodes and the story will grow on you.

Of course, this is not an easy watch as you need to follow the story closely to really know what is going on. It is also conversation-heavy which means some could find it boring. But for those who like palace politics and mind games, this is a rare gem. All the characters are there for a reason. They all fit nicely into the story rather than simply created to take up screen time. Even the minor ones have a role to play to move the story along. The main characters have depths to their personalities with their own motivations. You can see their minds ticking away rather than appearing bland and one-dimensional.

However, this is also a very male-centric historical drama. So, if you are looking for a strong and dominant female lead like Jun Jiu Ling, you would not find it here. Neither is it a romantic drama for you to swoon over. It is a drama that thrives on strategies and schemings instead. For this Nirvana In Fire 1 review, I would give it a score of 9/10. it is plot-driven but with everything else done right especially the script and casting to justify the high score. Now, I wonder if Nirvana In Fire 2 would be just as good.