Since “Nirvana In Fire”, I have dreaded watching a grown-up Wu Lei (he was only 15/16 in Nirvana In Fire) because I fear his grown up image may ruin my fond memory of the juvenile Wu Lei as the Fei Liu (Nirvana In Fire) character. To my pleasant surprise, Wu Lei has grown up into a fine young man with a chiseled good look. Together with Dilraba who doesn’t seem like an ideal partner in the beginning, this drama has taken me by surprise and totally out of my expectation.

Adapted from a manhua (comic), the story begins at the Xuanwu Gate incident in 626 during the Tang Dynasty when Li Shimin assassinated his brother the Crown Prince, Li Jiancheng, and his younger brother, Prince Li Yuanji, and later became the emperor (Emperor Taizong) himself. This story is based on real historical events and people, interjected with fictional characters and incidents. The story is captivating, nail-biting and well told. The fictional parts fit in perfectly with the actual historical events.

Li Changge is a fictional character whose father was the Crown Prince assassinated by Li Shimin. She vows revenge. Her quest takes her through the plains to the steppes. She meets friends and foes. She loses ones she loves and meets new ones. Ultimately, she finds the love of her life whom she would sacrifice everything to be with.

Both Dilraba and Wu Lei were not on my favorite actor list. I also didn’t think very highly of the matching of the couple. I was so wrong. Here in this drama, both are amazing, in their acting and their styling. As Li Changge, Dilraba is strong, tough, decisive and strategic without the cringe-worthiness which I have always associated her with. The two strands of her hair become her trademark and is very pleasant to watch but criticized by some viewers. Whether dressed as a man or as a girl, Dilraba is beautiful and her acting is convincing. Wu Lei has an aura of a man with few words but a lot goes through his mind at every instant. As Ashile Sun, he’s extremely charismatic and authentic, looking stunning in tribal costumes with braids on horseback, fearsome and stunning in war helmet. With Li Changge, their chemistry is wonderful and reassuring.

My Verdict
I love all the characters, friends or foes. Each has a story and the cast is well selected. The acting is convincing and authentic. Some scenes can be heart wrenching and tear jerking. The pace is just right with actions and connivance packed for every episode, making the whole drama irresistible to watch. And the OSTs are some of the best.

Everything looks good until the fighting comes. The substitution of expensive scenes (such as wars) with cheap manhua blemishes this wonderful drama. For me, it hasn’t diminished my pleasure and would have given this a 10/10 had it not been the little blemish.

An absolutely wonderful drama. Highly recommended!