Nirvana in Fire is by far the best Chinese drama I have ever seen, in terms of quality - there are probably worse dramas that I have been more addicted to, but NiF raised the bar for Chinese dramas and was a great feather in the cap for Hu Ge, who had a phenomenal 2015. This drama takes a lot of the fundamental elements of a historical Chinese drama - honor, loyalty, brotherhood - but injects it with a dose of something extra special. Story: I tend to be a little wary with Chinese historical dramas, because too often you get bogged down by all the palace politics and it might be intriguing for some people, but not for me. Nirvana In Fire didn't let itself get fixated on what was going on in the palace - Mei Changsu was the heart of this story, and it's so refreshing to have a drama with such an (actually) intelligent character. I'm hesitant to label this as a revenge story - I actually see it more as one of redemption. Mei Changsu was a beautifully complex character, who was once a noble and upright young man and has been hardened and jaded. That doesn't mean he's lost his moral compass, but he is no longer as innocent, and it's reflected well in how he manipulates the people around him. I loved how deftly Mei Changsu handled every situation - not that Plan A always worked out - but while he always tried to maintain several steps ahead of his opponents, he was also well aware that wasn't always possible. Prince Jing's character was essential to the story, and while I did find his sense of right and wrong tiring at times, it was awesome to see his friendship with Mei Changsu develop. Despite being fifty episodes, there wasn't a dull moment, and the writing was intelligent and well thought out, without being confusing and overwhelming. The direction was beautiful and everything was well shot - it had a very cinematic feel to it. Also - I actually really liked the fact that the story is not based on real history. It means that the writer has a little more leeway with her characters. I especially love the existence of strong female characters here - one is a detective and one is a general, and they are both so awesome. Characters/Acting/Cast: The fanwars aside, this cast was absolutely amazing. I love ensemble casts because the story doesn't depend on one star - instead, they can play off each other and bring the best out of one another. With that said, props to Hu Ge - as someone who has seen a lot of his works over the years (from his very first show to his most recent one), I am astounded by how much he's grown as an actor. This was an amazing role for him, and he embodied the complexities of Mei Changsu perfectly. As I mentioned earlier, I found myself so frustrated with Prince Jing at times, but Wang Kai was absolutely great in the role - even though he played a stiff character, he was also able to convey a lot of the fears and hangups of Prince Jing. And of course, hats off to the rest of the phenomenal cast - especially Victor Huang as Prince Yu, Liu Min Tao as Consort Jing (though when is she not awesome?), and Wang Jin Song as Marquise Yan. The latter especially actually played a small role in comparison, but he had such a great presence. One thing that the Shanying team has been great in is pairing up their youngest stars with a great veteran cast, and Nirvana In Fire was no exception. Music: The music that they chose for this show was beautiful, both from a musical and lyrical perspective. I love the fact that Liu Tao, Hu Ge, and Wang Kai all got to sing their own versions of some of the songs - it added a bit of dimension to the music and made some scenes even more poignant. If you've been burned by Chinese dramas in the past, don't skip out on this one - this is probably as perfect of a drama as you are going to get.