- Title: Love of Nirvana
- Also Known As: 流水迢迢, Liu Shui Tiao Tiao
- Director: Zhou Jing Tao
- Genres: Romance, Wuxia
- Cast: Ren Jia Lun, Li Lan Di, Jeremy Tsui
- Episodes: 40
- Date of Release: September 14, 2024
- Original Network: iQiyi, Tencent Video
- Where to Watch: iQiyi, WeTV, Tencent Video, Viki
- Adapted from the novel “Liu Shui Tiao Tiao” by Xiao Lou
It took me a long time to write this Love of Nirvana review. It is one of Chinse dramas released in September 2024. Apart from the fact that it was delayed because of the review of You Are My Lover Friend, I was quite hesitant to talk about this drama. Is Love of Nirvana a good drama? Yes, it is. Is it well written? Yes, it is. Are the leading actors gorgeous? Well… this is a pretty important question for me. And the answer is yes, they are. So, what is it that makes me hesitate? Let’s get to the bottom of that. Happy reading, dear readers!
Love of Nirvana Drama Synopsis
Wei Zhao is one of the most trusted aides of the Emperor of Liang State. He is a person with a eloquent tongue and a clever mind. People only know that Wei Zhao’s loyalty to the emperor is unshakable.
However, no one knows that Wei Zhao’s real identity is Xiao Wu Xia, the young lord of Yuelou. He lives secretly in Liang State to investigate the death of his father, which is connected to the case of Prince Qi. And to get to the bottom of the case, Wei Zhao has endured humiliation and ridicule from the people for being a sycophant.
On a mission to capture the sole survivor of the case, the disguised Wei Zhao sneaks into Fangling Manor in Qingkang. Wei Zhao’s mission was interrupted by the presence of Jiang Ci, a simple and innocent girl who came to join the fun at the manor. Jiang Ci was injured by him and collapsed.
Pei Yan, the Lord of Jianding, rescued the injured Jiang Ci and took her in. He was certain that Jiang Ci could recognize the mysterious figure who had ruined the peace talks between the Liang and Wei states.
Pei Yan kept Jiang Ci by his side as a pawn to find the mysterious figure. However, Wei Zhao found a way to threaten Jiang Ci into not revealing his identity. After learning about Wei Zhao’s tragic past and discovering the real person behind the sycophant mask, Jiang Ci begins to sympathize with him.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ci’s carefree spirit and kind heart touches a soft spot in the hearts of Wei Zhao and Pei Yan. From a triangle of love, they put aside their personal grievances to unite against the Emperor of Liang State and protect Yueluo State.
Love of Nirvana Drama Review
Love of Nirvana is a drama adaptation of the novel Liu Shui Tiao Tiao by Xiao Lou. This is a drama that is suitable for those who like heavy plots. The premise of Love of Nirvana is quite complicated. On the surface, it tells us the story of Wei Zhao’s revenge for his father’s death and the injustice his family faced after the death. However, things were not as simple as they seem.
If we compare this drama to a dish, Love of Nirvana is a dish made from a complicated recipe. The ingredients included two handsome and powerful male leads, a simple female lead, a bag of revenge, a block of mysterious past, a cup of competitive nature and suspicion, and a spoonful of rebellion.
To spice it up, we need some love triangle, a pinch of one-sided love, a bowl of war, and countless deaths. You mix all the ingredients in two countries, one of which is the most powerful, while the other serves as a vassal state. And there you have it, the Love of Nirvana.
Did I miss anything? 🤔
Our main ingredients, um… leads, are Ren Jia Lun and Jeremy Tsui. They are definitely my real motivation to watch this drama. I love to see a cold and powerful commander in historical dramas. Their costumes become my obsession, and their presence becomes my happiness. However, in the middle of this drama, I realized that the love of Nirvana is not my cup of tea.
The heavy plot and the political theme were not to my liking. Not to mention the ending. But that didn’t stop me from watching all 40 episodes. However, I didn’t feel the satisfaction that I used to feel after watching a drama. You can read how I explain about this drama ending at Love of Nirvana ending explained post.
This had become a question for me since I really enjoyed Nirvana in Fire, which is probably the most difficult drama I have ever watched. It was full of political action and almost no romance. So why couldn’t I enjoy this one? Even though Love of Nirvana has beautiful visuals, interesting costumes, and excellent sets.
Well, probably because of how the story unfolds and the characters of our main characters. Wei Zhao is a good person, he is loyal and determined. But I hated him at the beginning of the drama. The way he stabbed Jiang Ci and threatened her was a red flag for me. Wei Zhao slowly revealed his true personality and turned into a loving husband.
Well, it was acceptable, but I had already lost my appetite. Pei Yan is a gentleman and a filial son. He treats Jiang Ci well, but he slowly turns into a controlling and possessive lover. He also turned out to be a good guy later on, but just like what happened with Wei Zhao, my taste buds were already numb.
And there goes our simply but not so simple female lead.
Jiang Ci looked so pure and naive. However, she has a sharp mind that could read Wei Zhao and Pei Yan’s complicated plans. She was also able to maintain her stance amidst the torture and enticement offered to her.
For Jiang Ci, there’s nothing more important than her freedom. She lived a carefree life, so the splendor of the palace and the bustling capital never became a tantalizing temptation for her. Besides, Jiang Ci had more determination than any other person.
There were many villains in this drama. If the synopsis in iQiyi didn’t explicitly say that Pei Yan was a good guy, I would have thought that he was the main villain. Pei Yan was too gentle and his appearance was too friendly. And as the opposite, Wei Zhao was portrayed as an elegant gentleman, but with a cold and reserved nature.
The story of Love of Nirvana was a well-written drama. The story unfolded slowly, and the romance unfolded even slower than the plot. However, you could see many clues along the way. I didn’t like the feeling that I knew something that the characters didn’t. For example (spoiler alert), Rong Yu Die’s hatred for the emperor. She used to be the emperor’s girlfriend, but he left her for another woman.
Rong Yu Die then married the Emperor’s right hand man, and Pei Yan was born from the marriage. Later, her husband sacrificed himself for her ex-lover and died. Well, you can see where the intense bitterness in her originated. Anyway, I could see that Rong Yu Die was planning to usurp the throne. But Pei Yan, the experienced official and commander of a great army, didn’t realize her plan earlier.
And I could guess that Jiang Ci’s identity was something special from the way her master treated her. I was a little disappointed with the plot. Why does she have to become the missing daughter of a prominent family? Why can’t she keep the identity of an orphan? I’m really tired of this kind of troupe.
Still, there were many interesting things in this drama. Like the sets. I like elaborate sets, especially the carving on the swing and the columns. Many families use their house columns to mark the height of their children over the years. And children often write their names on their favorite toys, in this drama Xiao Wu Xia carved his name on the swing. I really love seeing details like that.
The costumes! I love the costumes. Ren Jia Lun looked dashing in white robes and flowing hair. After seeing him in Burning Flame with that horrible fringe, I was glad to see him return to his style in the One and Only drama. But I like him in the Liang State costume, which is more polished compared to Yuelou’s style.
Speaking of Jeremy Tsui, I couldn’t take my eyes off his long cape at the beginning of the drama. The cape looked so majestic. Li Lan Di’s costume was a bit ordinary compared to Ren Jia Lun and Jeremy Tsui. However, it fits her character perfectly.
After watching the whole drama, I had a small question in my mind. Jeremy Tsui always seemed to keep his head down for several degrees. I wondered if there was a specific reason related to Pei Yan’s character or if the wig and crown were too heavy for Jeremy Tsui.
Although the visuals, camera angles, and lighting were good, I couldn’t help but grumble about the CGI. Since the first episode, when Pei Yan caught the teacup in an almost impossible move, I was disappointed. Later, I just pretended not to see any glitch in the CGI. I feel that my ability to exercise selective attention was well used in Cdramaland.
Finally, I think our actors did a good job in this case.
In the beginning, I thought Ren Jia Lun and Jeremy Tsui’s acting was so-so. But as the story progressed, there was character development and you could see that Pei Yan’s smile was more sincere and Wei Zhao’s eyes were no longer dull. Li Lan Di also does a good job as Jiang Ci. She portrayed Jiang Ci’s emotional rollercoaster really well.
From a carefree girl, she turned into a woman who was good at hiding her emotions for fear that it would be a burden to her loved ones. And let’s not forget Gao Han, who played the quiet but lovelorn doctor Cui Liang. I love him as the 3rd prince in Love Like the Galaxy drama. And now I love him even more…😁.
All in all, Love of Nirvana is a good drama. The actors, director, and production team did a good job with this drama. But even though this drama is good, I didn’t enjoy it 100%. Sure, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies. The sad ending of this drama made me sure that Love of Nirvana was not for me, a romance junkie who watches dramas as an escape from the hustle and bustle of real life. After a long, hard day, I just want to see a happy couple doing happy things on screen.
Love of Nirvana Drama Characters
Jiang Ci
Jiang Ci (played by Li Lan Di) wasn’t born into a privileged situation. As an orphan, she was rescued by her master and they have lived together ever since. Jiang Ci is a person who faces the world with a positive mindset, a bit of naivety, and a basket full of cheerfulness. She never complains and always chooses to focus on the things that really matter to her. Jiang Ci wouldn’t spare a thought for people who mistreated her.
As a creative person, Jiang Ci was adept at making small trinkets such as wind chimes. We could see that he was also good with clay, as she could make a similar clay cat figurine. However, she is often sleepy when she studies. Jiang Ci’s mind is always running around. She had a sharp mind and was good at deducing problems.
However, Jiang Ci’s true strength is her kind and pure heart. Her master did a good deed by preserving these qualities. Jiang Ci’s presence brings hope back to Wei Zhao and Pei Yan.
Wei Zhao / Xiao Wu Xia
Wei Zhao (played by Ren Jia Lun) is one of the most trusted aides to the Emperor of the Liang Kingdom. He is the commander of the Guang Ming Guard, which is responsible for the safety of the emperor. Wei Zhao is not a man of many words, but his determination is always evident in everything he does.
In addition to his name, people also call him San Lang. Wei Zhao’s older sister is the Emperor’s favorite concubine. They used to be separated, but after she entered the palace, they met again.
As Xiao Wu Xia, Wei Zhao shouldered the heavy burden of his family’s downfall. This became the source of his strong will and resolute character traits. Wei Zhao’s martial arts skills are high, and he’s not afraid of death. No one would question his loyalty to Yuelou, even though his father was deemed the source of the disaster.
Pei Yan
Pei Yan (played by Jeremy Tsui), also known as Shao Jun, is the Lord of Jianding. He is famous for his filial piety. Pei Yan’s father died defending the country. His mother, Rong Yu Die, is a cold and bitter person. Growing up in a loveless family, Pei Yan hid his suspicious and controlling nature under the facade of a kind gentleman.
As a subject of the Emperor, Pei Yan’s loyalty is unwavering. As the commander of the Chang Feng Guards, he is a good leader. We could see this in how disciplined the Chang Feng Guards were and how loyal his personal servants were to him. Despite being surrounded by wealth, Pei Yan was a lonely person. It was only after Jiang Ci entered his life that Pei Yan felt his life was colorful.
Cui Liang
Cui Liang (played by Gao Han), also known as Zi Ming, is one of Pei Yan’s subordinates. He is a talented doctor with a gentle demeanor and a soft heart. However, not many people know that he is Pei Yan’s strategist due to his brilliant mind.
Cui Liang is a wise and rational man. He sticks to his principles and is an upright and righteous man. Cui Liang doesn’t have many dreams, except to marvel at the vast world.
The Conclusion
Love of Nirvana is a very good choice for those who like a heavy political and revenge plot. The pacing was slow and the romance was even slower. If you like this kind of drama, you would appreciate it if the story would slowly unfold. But obviously this drama was not for me, a romance junkie who watch Cdrama just to see happy couples on a daily basis 😆.
So, have you decided to watch this one, dear reader? Don’t forget to check out the Love of Nirvana Ending Explained post. I’ll see you in another drama review. Thanks for stopping by. Ciao!
