Download Nirvana In Fire Season 2 Engsub UPDATED
Download Nirvana In Fire Season 2 Engsub
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57 people found this review helpful
Story 9.0
Acting/Bandage 9.0
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers
I rampage watched this drama in 2 days afterward finally deciding I was going to give information technology a shot. Updated edit after a rewatch: I'k hesitant to compare this against NiF ane anymore (even though I still do think it was better produced, I'grand more emotionally attached to the characters in NiF2) because I think they're such great companion stories for each other. While 2 is a sequel (it takes place near 50 years later after the first), it'southward an entirely different story with a different premise. Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster - this evidence will earn your tears and your emotional investment.
Story
The story focuses on the family of the general of the Changlin Army (the army that was created in Mei Changsu's memory). Ting Sheng, the head of the family and of the army, was ane of the slave boys that Mei Changsu had saved in the original, and was afterward adopted by Prince Xiao Jingyan. Ting Sheng's oldest son, Xiao Pingzhang, is his right hand human being and the named heir, while his younger son has lived a spoiled and sheltered life (in the sense that his family lets him have a lot of freedom and not have to worry virtually the responsibilites of being in a military family unit) and spends most of his time on Langya Mountain. Both sons are supremely talented - Ping Zhang is an incredible military strategist and represents his family unit in court with the Emperor to navigate the political waters. Ping Jing, while immature and a bit brash, has had his sharp instincts honed past his male parent and brother and has street smarts in spades. While very different, the two brothers are very close, and much of the outset half focuses on their family's bond.
While the original story focused on one central storyline, the sequel follows the ups and downs of the Changlin family unit - because of this, the plot isn't every bit tight equally the original every bit information technology is much more circuitous. The political stuff was a flake also much at times (and infuriating), but the reasons behind most of the conflicts were logically audio.
One of the pluses of the drama was that there was a strong focus on relationships - exist it family (THE CHANGLIN FAMILY - ugh, I'grand nevertheless recovering from all of the feelings), romance, friendship, the bond betwixt a person in ability and those who serve him, or the human relationship between the past and future (sooo many name drops - it was kind of fun to effigy out who was related to a graphic symbol in the original story). The original had elements of this of course, only due to the story being about the Changlin family unit (who are as well a military family), the emphasis on interpersonal relationships is much greater. The romance was likewise much amend in this one than the commencement, in my opinion - Ping Zhang and his wife have such a great, healthy relationship and the mutual respect (and dearest) that they have for i some other is wonderful to see. The younger couple was cute besides - and I liked the fact that while both could lead very independent lives, it was the times that they were together that made them the happiest.
Probably one of the biggest criticisms of the evidence is that it is centered effectually a boy/homo who is barely xx when the story begins - but to me, this is 1 of the best selling points of the shows. Possibly younger viewers may non capeesh this, but the freshness and youthful enthusiasm of Pingjing was an absolute delight (more so because is he is played past someone who is right at that historic period), and watching him grow upwardly and mature was both bittersweet and awesome. There are times where y'all wish he was more self-aware, but he'due south non a stupid character - just a very young one, and that's part of the amuse. I can honestly say Pingjing is probably my favorite drama protagonist in the terminal...I don't fifty-fifty know how many years.
There'due south also this bloodshot satisfaction knowing that we are, in a style, watching what the 19 year old Lin Shu would have been like, because nosotros never got come across him go through that growing upwardly procedure - we went straight to adulthood. It'due south noted by several characters that both Lin Chen and Xiao Jingyan, who were probably Lin Shu's best friends, were both incredibly addicted of Ping Jing and spoiled him accordingly - in office considering they are very similar in personalities, though manifestly the roads they walked were very unlike. It's a subtle reference that I actually enjoyed - they are not the same people at all, but the spirit of Lin Shu/Mei Changsu lives on through Pingjing.
I found in particular the word of nature vs nurture to be pretty interesting - this is a topic that is pushed pretty difficult in the drama, as the debate follows multiple characters who walk on dissimilar paths. The idea of fate is also nicely interwoven in - no matter how much effort we put in, no matter what choices we make, are we always going to end up at the aforementioned destination?
(Edited after rewatch): This isn't the same story every bit Nirvana in Fire and if you're expecting that, you're already going to be disappointed. NiF was a story of triumph, of redemption (more and then than revenge, in my opinion), mingled with bittersweet elements. Mei Chang Su set out with a specific goal in heed so he had everything planned out and the climax was when he obtained that goal at the very end of the series.
NiF2 is very different - it's more similar a chronicle of the Changlin family, with a specific focus on Pingjing and the people around him. For some people, the climax of the story probably happened around episode 36, and I agree, to a sure extent. I call back the indicate of the story isn't about the fall and redemption of the Changlin family - information technology'south about family and bloodlines; it'southward about growing up and living with yourself and the choices that you make. I sympathize what people mean by the anticlimatic ending and the final arc (and I exercise hold that the writing was a bit poor towards the terminate), merely to me, it felt correct and matched everything nosotros had learned well-nigh all the characters up to that point.
Acting/Cast:
Huang Xiaoming and Liu Haoran every bit the two Changlin brothers exceeded expectations for me. This was also a heavily criticized decision when the production first started, considering Huang Xiaoming is known as an idol actor, merely similar Hu Ge before him, he turned in a strong functioning - if HXM doesn't overact, he has this natural warmth that comes from his real life personality and it worked so well for his large brother role. Seriously, never doubt these directors - they know what they're doing when they bandage people (well, for the most part - meet beneath for what I didn't similar well-nigh the casting choices).
Pingjing was a really tricky role to play (and to bandage for) and I feel like it has to be acknowledged - you're talking well-nigh a story that spans most three or iv years and the graphic symbol goes from a carefree, sheltered prince to a solemn, matured young general (this isn't a spoiler - it'due south in the synopsis). And so basically your casting options would be: ane) Option an older actor (early on to mid 20s) - a la Hu Ge in The Disguiser - which...wasn't great. They would exist able to handle the 2d half well, but you would cringe your way through the outset half. If people already call up (and then) 19 twelvemonth one-time LHR was a bit difficult to watch interim as a 20 year old, I have no idea how they'd tolerate this.
2) Pick a younger histrion (tardily teens, presumably) and hope that they don't look similar a child pretending to be an adult when they reach the 2d half. In the Chinese market, there but simply aren't a lot of candidates that would fit all the criteria (age, looks, height, acting talent, public recognition, temperament, demeanor, and ability to pull off both arcs). As great every bit Daylight Entertainment's reputation is, they also have to take someone who has some degree of popularity as the main role. The give-and-take that is nearly associated with Liu Hao Ran on Chinese media is "youth" (even earlier NiF) - it'due south not his age, necessarily, but a spirit that he has in spades - and information technology served him so, so well in this office. He was able to rely on information technology to acquit him through the offset one-half, then the natural contrast between his youthful demeanor and the burden on his shoulders really tugged at the heartstrings in the 2nd one-half. I cried when he cried, I laughed when he laughed - he embodied the character perfectly for me. He'due south not a polished player by any means - but he's got a skilful foundation and definitely grew as an actor throughout the drama. Once more, he just turned xix when he filmed this - 19!
The shining star in terms of acting though, definitely goes to Sun Chun, who plays the brothers' father. What a masterful performance past a veteran role player.The grapheme felt 100% real and he actually fleshed out every aspect of Changlin Wang - equally a father, as a friend, as a brother, as a general, and every bit a loyal servant of the Emperor. The way he delivered his lines - oh man. If China actually did legit drama awards, he deserves one.
Sunday Chun, Huang Xiaoming, and Liu Haoran also had phenomenal chemistry as begetter and sons which made some of the afterward scenes all that more emotional for me. (If you desire something cute, go look at their weibo comments and posts to each other throughout the drama - information technology'south similar if the family lived in the modern age and could access social media, ha. Some of the other cast members also occasionally pitch in their opinions on where the story is at).
Squeals for Zhang Bo, who was great as the caput of the Imperial Guard - I will never ever forget his performance as Dominicus Quan in Iii Kingdoms about 7 years ago and he was just every bit awesome in this role. He just has this natural charisma and gravitas that works then well on screen (and gets improve equally he ages). Why is he not more popular?! Tong Liya and Zhang Huiwen turned in decent performances as the main two female leads (though of course like the first i this is a very male person-dominated bandage) - Tong Liya in item had some great scenes. I liked Zhang Huiwen'southward Lin Xi, merely wish she was used more, particularly in the second half. Guo Jingfei probably had a nail in his role and I was torn betwixt laughing considering I knew he probably enjoyed the performance and too superbly creeped out because he turned in a very skilful acting performance.
I am conflicted on how i feel about Wu Haochen, who plays a pretty important function. I think his acting was solid (especially in the final arc - he was phenomenal), simply somehow he merely never visually fit into the office and it became distracting to a certain degree. I know that there's been a lot of comments about his appearance and I've never actually been all that concerned about looks when it comes to interim, but the visual presentation took me out of his scenes by and large. I had no issues with him in Ode to Joy, so I wonder if it's considering he doesn't quite fit the "gu zhuang" look. I too just never cared about him - peculiarly in the second half - I only wanted to encounter more of Pingjing - and I think that'southward considering while Wu Haochen did a good task acting, he never fabricated me experience anything about the grapheme. In the original NiF, Prince Yu (played by Victor Huang) was definitely not a protagonist merely I actually felt for him (and part of that has to practise with charismatic Victor was in the office).
If there is one criticism that I have of this product team, it'southward their trend to reuse actors that they've casted in previous shows - sometimes I similar it as it's kind of like spotting Easter eggs, but sometimes it can also be very trying. I wasn't fond of the casting choice of Qiao Xin (she was already in the original as the oh-then-memorable-for-bad-acting Nian Nian!!). It'd be one thing if they reused an player with cracking acting talent, merely Qiao Xin is definitely...not that. Also, you could have done away with her grapheme completely and it would probably been fine - I simply constitute all of her scenes completely unneccessary.
The cast overall (especially the veterans) weren't as phenomenal as the supporting cast in the original, but the principal bandage actually carried the testify well, so it was okay.
Music
I honey how the music is the same, withal just a tiny fleck different. It brought back just the right corporeality of feels. The theme song has 2 different versions and has a much more stronger tone than Hu Ge'due south vocal in the original - probably due to the more military, state of war-aptitude nature of this one.
Rewatch Value
I took one star off because there were about x episodes straight where I was just crying nonstop and I don't know if I tin handle that again. But the emotional roller coaster is worth it, and I think I will definitely be rewatching very presently.
Overall
This is very different story than from the original Nirvana In Burn down. As I mentioned previously, I think the first was a better production overall, but the second one has me invested way more in the characters, and if you don't mind a younger main graphic symbol (and are interested in watching a growth arc), i think you may detect the show a smash to watch.
Sequels are probably never going to live upward to the original, but I dearest that they changed almost everything (the story, the bandage) and still maintained that definite "Nirvana In Fire" vibe - it is definitely worthy of being considered a quality stand-solitary prove.
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