In a typical drama:
1) Have you ever felt annoyed at a character for making the wrong decisions?
2) Have you ever found yourself skipping scenes because you want to get on with the plot?
3) Have you ever thought that a scene didn't make sense for the context of the situation?

Look no further, NIRVANA IN FIRE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN! This show will ease your pain and NOT make you ask these questions.

1) The ML, although physically weak, he proves that you don't need physical strength to win battles. His ability to understand people's behaviors combined with his intelligence makes him the ultimate mastermind for maneuvering around schemes and executing plans. You won't find yourself getting annoyed at his character, but you may find yourself feeling empathetic for him instead.

2) Each act and scene had a purpose. The dialogue either contributed to the movement of the storyline or used to build characters and their relationships. The plot never goes stale and you're constantly on edge with the ML trying to help him achieve his main goal.

3) Whilst it is a political period drama with wuxia elements, it stays true to its genre whilst also remembering the human emotions and passions in a political power struggle. Whether it's a conversation scene or an action fight scene, it will have you thinking "wow, that's so smart!"

Bottom line:
It is one of the most well-written dramas I've ever seen. However, if you're someone who is used to romantic comedy or light-hearted dramas, and this is the first political period piece you intend to watch, you'll either end up mesmerized by its logical brilliance or end up finding it difficult to appreciate if you struggled to keep up with the script. BUT, if you're tired of dramas with poorly written stories anyway, watch Nirvana in Fire and you won't be disappointed.

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All too relatable; An open letter/drama to the independent woman in her late 20s and early 30s.

You can be female and focus on your career, but still don't want to be alone.
You can be in a marriage, but still want to be independent and have your own voice.

When women are in their teens or 20s, society and dramas depict a dream-like fairytale that you can have an epic romance, live a dream job or get married, have kids and happy ending.

However,
- What if you don't want to get married?
- What if you'd rather prove that you can hold your own career path?
- What if you don't want kids?
- What if you were a housewife for 15 years and want to pursue new hobbies in your 40s?
- What happens if you quit your job in your early 20s to go travelling and decide you want to work again in your late 30s?
- What happens if you didn't want kids when you got married in your 20s, but now want kids in your late 30s; is it too late?

This drama opens the world to reality yet adds a glimmer of magic which makes it the hopeful story that it is. The idiosyncrasies at every corner of the drama can make one tear and connect with the main cast and say "I understand, I do/say that sometimes". Although subtle, you see it from the first few episodes where the female lead put a timer to cry in the workplace bathroom cubicle or eating instant noodles after work because she didn't have time to cook, to the episodes where she was alienated from meetings or working from the hospital bed.

Romance is the last word I would use to describe the connections in this drama. This drama showcases how relationships develop when people have genuine respect for each other, can work through multiple facades of problems together, support each other, and have the same core values. This is unlike the dramas where main leads fell in love at first sigt or some tug-o-war "I love you but I don't moments". While I acknowledge that there are scenes like this, the responses aren't over-dramatised and situations flow like you are part of the story. Additionally, it also shows what happens after the "honeymoon" period of young love, what struggles does a couple go through in their late 30s? On the flip side to the above, it shows what happens when couples can't resolve these problems together, don't respect or support each other, and push their values on to their partner.

The balance between "romance" and office politics was ingenious. The way the female lead suggests solutions to a problem such as the legal and sales department restructure to the willingness to approach new sales ideas with the support of data. These little details makes it assuring to watch that it's not just pure luck but hard work, effort and tactics by her or her employees that helped her through those work obstacles or political troubles.

As a single working woman in her late 20s while writing this review, the main female lead's rationalism, decisions, determination to stand up for the powerless, focus on her goals yet desire to remain child-like, be with her family and eat junk food, was all too relatable. "Some women have thorns all over their body because they're afraid of being abandoned or hurt". This is the first fictional slice-of-life that I could appreciate and connect to. Would this resonate with me if I was younger or older? I don't know, I'll definitely want to watch again to find out.

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