Wow. First of all, even if you're not usually a fan of Chinese dramas, watch Nirvana in Fire. This was probably one of the best TV shows (Western or Asian) I've ever watched. Even though it got rave reviews I was also skeptical when starting it. The beginning was a little challenging because of the introduction of SO many characters and, honestly, it was a little hard to follow in the first couple of episodes. However the more you watch the better it gets, and everything quickly started to make more sense after episode 2 or 3. This is mainly due to great acting by its cast and a well-paced story. Pacing is important for a 54 episode political drama and this never dragged. Maybe I am just drawn to epic stories about war, brotherhood, and subterfuge, but even if you're not, this show is higher quality in terms of writing, acting, and cinematography than most things you'll see.