#very fun contrast to jingyan

[winepresswrath]

None of this is changing how hype I am for NiF 3, which will apparently feature Wu Lei in some capacity.

[berrysphase]

Nirvana in Fire rewatch liveblog part 18

Ep 40-41

Ah: this is now act IV.

Prince Yu bows his head to the floor in genuine abasement, and, suddenly, after being furious with him and his schemes for the past many episodes, here I am sympathizing with him again. His grace in defeat here is so striking, especially to his wife; if only it weren’t so temporary!

I am never going to not love Cai Quan chugging Shen Zhui's best spirits.

Shen Zhui's moral courage here is exceptional and frankly inspiring. If you hold the position, you should do your job. Having the heart to serve the country well and faithfully, to the best your situation allows, is better than doing nothing. 

“Take her away,” Jing says, but xiao Xin rises by herself, backs away correctly, and removes herself.  <333

So this bit where Meng and Jingyan recklessly storm the prisons to threaten Xia Jiang about the antidote, it struck me as great iddiness the first time through, and I still haven't changed my mind :/ 

Oh it is snowing again how very thematic

I love all these places where you can see how un-naive Jingyan actually is. I mean, in this stretch we get a bunch of bits where people around him worry that oh noes Jingyan our straightforward stubborn military Prince is too naive and doesn't understand how fragile the Emperor's favor is, and Jingyan is just like, sigh, let me remind you about the single most formative event of my adult life not to mention the source of my ptsd.

He has a strong, decisive temper that he doesn't bother to rein in at the beginning because he doesn't see the point -- when he's persuaded there is a point after all, and when he starts pays enough attention to court to understand the traps, he does very, very well.   (So should MCS have told him the truth earlier? To say his judgement on this matter is suspect is an understatement of rather ridiculous proportions, and I think Jingyan could have done better than MCS gives him credit for. But on the other hand Chiyan is so close to the bone for Jingyan, I wouldn't necessarily have wanted to trust his self-mastery there either, even given all his best intentions.

I swear every time we get to one of Consort Jing's scenes I sit straight up and say “o shit she set that up on purpose”, being able to see how she does it is seriously one of the most amazing things about rewatching. This one is especially jaw-dropping -- one quickly swatted-down offer of help and some carefully timed hand cream get her (1) the emperor remembering to demote Consort Yue and promote her; (2) the emperor finally doing something to stop the bullying of Consort Hui, and just when it seemed like she'd gotten two-for-one the final twist in the conversation lays out the actual end goal: (3) Jingting will oversee Jingyan's case. All of this and the Emperor feels happy and subconsciously a bit reassured that she actually did ask him for something she wanted (the nicely selfless let's all be nice to Consort Hui request) and he was able to grant it, so he goes away feeling happily benevolent. My god.

The irony of Xia Jiang now offering his truthful confession to the emperor and having it flatly disregarded is extremely satisfying.

I discounted Meng's relation of Xia Chun and Xia Qiu's deaths the first time through, since it was a very useful line in an intimidation gambit. But we never see them again. I really don't want both of them to have died under flogging :( and I don't want the only person who mourns them to be Xia Jiang :( at least this is one of the easiest fixits to write ever

Ah, I love that little offhand reference Shen Zhui makes to meeting MCS during his first foray into court. That's fun to imagine.

There are so many little things I love in this “let's get our painfully straightforward Jingyan a proper strategist” bit -- especially the whole interchange where Jingyan asks the emperor, yeahbut did my brother's tactics actually work -- but this whole bit with the emperor encouraging Jingyan to talk to MCS more is all wonderfully amusing and everything and then the emperor says, “This time, because of you, Su Zhe got involved for no reason” and it’s truuuuue and you can see it on Jingyan’s face, it's so good

oh hey, Minister Liu is namedropped again as quietly on Jingyan's side.

YAY LOOK IT’S MU QING the only problem with the middle of the drama is not enough Mu siblings.

I don't have anything to actually say about this scene with MCS and Meng talking about different imagined futures, with all the little subtle shadings about friendship, loss, and use; I'm just writing down that it's here because I love it, enormously.

sssfjdhs okay I do have something to say here after all, the segue from that scene (which is all about what MCS and Jingyan think they owe to each other) to the next, where Banruo tries to pull Prince Yu up from his resignation -- when he asks her, would you still come see me even if I were a non-noble Prince -- that variation on the same strategist/strategee theme, the contrast is so stark, it's brutally painful, it really underscores how very much not in his best interest Banruo is acting. And I'm suddenly there with my heart in my throat wanting Prince Yu not to bite. It's truly masterful how well this show manipulates our sympathy for Prince Yu.

[pickyperkypenguin]

So. You finished NiF. Who is your favorite character? Favorite 'arc'?

Ihave liked Nirvana in Fire a little bit differently than I usually dowhen I fall for a book/movie/show. I tend to focus on characters andthey are what makes me like something and stick with it. Here itwas the storytelling that has grabbed me by the ankle and chained metomy laptop for several days, as I’ve binge-watched the whole thing.I have been immensely satisfied with the outcomes and theconsequences of the initial setup, and with the fact that it was allso cleanly done – the goals and the circumstances set, executionconsequent and the actions actually having a follow up. I’m notsaying it was devoid of loose ends or always completely believablesometimes – videXiao Jingyan’s complete inability to see through all the slip upsmade not only by Lin Shu – but those disbelieves were a consequenceof creating an additional tension between characters, so I didn’tmind at all.

What I think Ienjoyed most was the machinations coming true and seeing theorchestration of them. It was full of suspense, but not for theviewer, which I think is a great choice to make by the creators,because the viewer is often credited with less comprehension skillsthey have, and we end up with big reveals that we’ve seen throughdecades ago. I didn’t feel like it was the case here – we couldinstead watch the reactions of the characters, which was much moreinteresting for me.

Sayingall this, I wasn’t as deeply connected emotionally with thecharacters as I usually am, when liking a thing (book, show, etc.)this much. The uniqueness of liking NiF for me was this: I’vestayed engaged throughout fifty four episodes despite not zeroing onthe characters. The plot was actuallyinteresting enoughfor me, for once. That’s like, my private major kudos for NiF.

It wasn’tabout any plot twists, and not even about rooting for any particularoption to win – I could have easily watch with equal interest andsatisfaction the demise of prince Jingyan and Mei Changsu’s plans.Which doesn’t mean I didn’t have personal faves and dislikes.Ugh, consort Yue. Ugh, the first Crown Prince. I found them a bit toocaricatural, and was relieved when their arc has ended and they wereremoved from action. Though, I must admit, Jingxuan was a very goodcontrast for Jinghuan, and consort Yue for consort Jing. So, as I’vesaid, even when I didn’t like someone, their presence have madesense as they accentuated well all the others around. Oh, and Xie Yu?Nightmare, a complete nightmare – but what a wonderful villain!

Oh, andanother thing that was very interesting for me – this was a Chinesedrama made with the Chinese audience in mind, and therefore used sometropes, visual shortcuts that for a European were not always clear, Isuspect also sometimes not even visible. It was very interesting forme to try and understand things I were presented – like the factthat nobody had ever kissed on screen. When Mu Nihuang and Lin Shuhugged, were they actually hugging? Were they kissing passionately?Were they kissing reverently? Or when the Emperor was holding a handof one of his consorts – was that the equivalent of a kiss on thecheek or was he actually drawing moral support from hand holding? Isimply don’t know, because I don’t have enough required knowledge– a state very in line with my education, and I found that alsostrangely satisfying. It was a lot of fun for me to try and piecethose things and try to find an explanation for them.

Followingthe trope of the satisfaction and touch – the lack of touching! Iswear, it was so interesting to observe all the ways emotionalcloseness could be expressed either by reverence when following theetiquette protocol or verbally, without ever being overt with it.Coming from the perspective of creating and sustainingtension? Awesome.

Diving intothe characters more deeply – my favourite thing about Mei Changsuwas that he was actually the Left Hand, not just some stand-in withgood morals. He was committing morally questionable choices for thegreater cause, and he was not always apologetic about it. I felt likeperhaps the storytelling was trying to suggest to me as a viewer atthose points that because he had good morals (or Xiao Jingyan as amoral compass that he believed in) and was working for the prosperityof the Empire and its moral rejuvenation, then he should be absolved– but I read it as  mere suggestion, and so I didn’t feel it asobnoxious attempts of the narrative to convince me. I could make myown observations about his choices and morality, and in the end tojudge if he was a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ character. He was neitherand it was the best thing about it.

Mei Changsuwas also an excellent counterpart and a parallel to the princeJinghuan. Ah, Xiao Jinghuan – his was my favourite arc of them all.His and Changsu’s choices were actually quite the same – theywere trying to scheme mercilessly to get what they wanted: power. Thefact that they had different principles and goals (Changsu: devoidthe court of corruption, make the rule of the Empire just and goodfor people; Jinghuan: gain the prestigious title of the Emperor andall that follows it) doesn’t change much, when you look at it fromthe perspective of what they have sacrificed to get it (and aside ofthe results and whether they succeeded). Also my favourite part ofJinghuan is that he is actually not a villain. He is a product of hisupbringing, provenience, life circumstances and environment he livedin. Not once he does something that would have a root in this. Hiswant of power? Coming from his ambition, of course. But his ambition?Where does that come from? Oh, here it is, look, expectances ofothers (especially his mother and father the Emperor) and the role ofprince he had, and there were not many variants of it he could choosefrom, if he wanted to have respect and prestige.

The morebeautiful and delightfully satisfying to watch is his fall. My mostfavourite scene of all the show was that one, from the episode 41:

“Ban Ruo,were I not a Noble Prince, would you still come to see me today?”

“Iwould.”

“What ifI was exiled and made a commoner. Would you still come see me?”

“YourHighness, those are all imaginary scenarios, why worry about them?”

“Youwon’t come, right? That’s logical, you are a strategist and alsoa descendant of the Hua people. You have an unfinished mission. So,naturally, you need to find someone worth supporting. Now, that Ihave fallen, you will obviously not come to see me again.”

“It isn’tlike that, your Highness.”

“I’mtired. I really don’t want to fight any more.”

Inthis very moment we see Jinghuan completely and irrevocably crushed.Here also manifests a second extremely important thing – theacting. Victor Huang has delivered,is what I’m saying. I feel like a lot of this show could fall flatand the narrative choices could just not make sense (not thisparticular one, but others), if not for amazing acting skills of mostof the cast. Victor Huang or Hu Ge made like 60% of their characterswith just a frown, a smirk, a tip of a head. And they made thembelievable. Lin Shu still deeply in love with Mu Nihuang afterthirteen years? Absolutely obvious. Jinghuan at the end of his ropein this scene? Guys, I have honestly believed for a second that thisperhaps is how they are going to deal with him. Of course, Ban Ruomade that obvious later that it won’t be the case, but if itdepended solely on Jinghuan, I was convinced he would just stop andlive out his days as a melancholic version of prince Ji. Which, Ithink, would be not such a bad thing for him.

Thatscene though, ah – Jinghuan stripped completely bare, finallyrealising he doesn’t have anythingin his life. No power, no respect, no love of his people. Everythinghe has is superficial and coming from his lifestyle, the faithfulnessof his subordinates coming from their own ethos rather than fromgenuine feeling of being treated well. And that is what I thinkreally defeats him, his failure and the awareness of not havinganything sincerely meaningful in his life. Ban Ruo he still trusts,because he knows her (even better now, when he’s aware what sheactually wants from him) and doesn’t care as much as he did for theconsequences. His goals, I think, shift from gaining the status toavenging the fact that he can’t have it. I think at this point hedoesn’t believe in possible success, maybe leaves like 10% ofstupid hope, but most of all he wants to sing his swan song, to showthat he still can execute things, even if they won’t have all thedesigned results.

I wasn’tvery satisfied with that swan song, to be honest, from the emotionalpoint of view. I thought it could have such a great outcome if theywould let him live defeated as he was – but the emotional tormentswould be a good material for a different type of show, not asplot-reliant as this one. I would love a fix-it fic where this wouldbe explored, ahhhh. He could be depressed and trying to improvehimself, so he could finally gain something emotionally meaningful inhis life and also perhaps he would be using all the perks of hisnoble-and-rich life as he liked them very much, he could be an artpatron or something like that. Oh yes, gimme that goodness.

I really likedMei Changsu’s arc, even though it felt a bit artificial, buildingthat tension between him and prince Jingyan. When they were togetheron screen, though, it worked so well, because the actors had a greatchemistry between them. I mean, Hu Ge has excellent chemistry withjust about everyone, is what I’m saying. To be honest, I liked toothat his story with Mu Nihuang was tragic in the end. It feltappropriate, having all those ends cut abruptly – it was aphenomenal choice to actually let him die instead of finding somemagic cure in the last minute, as it often is and as I have expectedsubconsciously. Him dying was what tied this story as it should betied, leaving people grieving but remembering his impact on the fatesof the Empire, exactly the way he wanted.

A great touchwas also this moment when Lin Chen says that he doesn’t know thiswhole Lin Shu, that Changsu is his friend. It is him, not some shadowfrom the past he is helping. He saw something worthy in Changsu andhe isn’t founding his opinions about him on the past – and that’sso different from most of the people that surround Mei Changsu (ofthose that he can confide in).

Theemotional distance between the characters I found a thing of marvel.The loneliness of those who wield power was very well executed –and not the obvious one, as in case of prince Jingyan (can you noticehe was not my favourite? Like, you know, lovely but in a mashedpotatoes way) – but the less obvious, with those who had a supportsystem at first glance. Lin Shu is willingly depriving himself fromthe people who would love to co-carry his burden and is trying tofind a balance when they try to hero-worship him. Prince Jinghuan hasvery obedient subordinates that he half doesn’t pay attention, halfconvinces himself they love him as they should because of his naturalbirthright and innate nobleness (a beautiful example of the effectsof classism in praxis)and in fact has no one to lean on except his mother (which comes withits own set of expectations). The Emperor has a court full of peoplehe has to keep carefully divided and even those who are technicallysupposed to fulfil the role of emotional support (his consorts) areexploiting him, because he exploits them. Yum, yum, yum.

On the otherhand there are friendships – the other strongest point of thisshow. I haven’t been shipping any pair here, because thefriendships were so engaging. Like Yan Yujin and Xiao Jingrui forexample? Another arc I loved, including the cruelty of Mei Changsu’schoice to go through with his plan that would affect his friend. Alsowhat amused me endlessly was the fact that the general atmosphere ofNirvana in Fire was so loaded and serious, that whenever one of thesetwo precious boys, Yujin or Jingrui, appeared on the screen, it waslike an automatic comic/tension relieve. Their dynamics was adorable,light-hearted and young, and their choice to stay friends despite thefallout and the distance, and to treat each other exactly the same asthey were before, with kindness and care, was what warmed my heart.

So, ahem,finishing this dramatically long answer to your question – this waswhat I liked about Nirvana in Fire :>. And probably many more things, but I feel like I have already said too much for one post :D.