This show is truly a masterpiece. From beginning to end, I was never disappointed. From the very start, you are thrown into the story with little to no context. It is definitely confusing having no backstory to go on. You must give the drama your absolute undivided attention because every line of the dialogue, every little detail will come back to bite you. This show is highly intelligent, with long conversations that drive the plot. It's tightly written and there are no filler episodes, which I appreciate. There are many, many characters but all are important. However, I did not expect them to be written so well. Every character is complex, has their own backstory, motives and a role in the Grand Plan. This cast is the most solid ensemble I've seen in Asian television. The casting director is an absolute genius. You would expect political dramas to be more fast-paced. However, I find the slower pace of Nirvana in Fire perfect. The schemers and our heroes are not out in the open, they must try to hide their actions from the highly suspicious Emperor. And for this reason, story arcs tend to build up slowly, rather than dramatically. The slower pace also allows us to absorb the onslaught of information properly. Upon finishing this magnificent drama, the first thought is to begin the journey all over again. To catch every single detail, to pay more attention to the costuming, to marvel at the beauty of the set, to get lost in the sounds of traditional Chinese instruments, to observe how exactly Mei Changsu kicked his Grand Plan into motion. Ultimately, Nirvana in Fire stole my heart because of the themes it explores. The writer epically exemplifies the relationships between brotherhood, justice, truth, honour, loyalty, morality and love until you're not sure where one begins and the other ends. To fight against adversity for what you believe in is no easy feat. And it is the fire and determination our heroes use to do this that makes Nirvana in Fire resonate in our hearts.