Love of Nirvana 流水迢迢 was released on September 14, 2024, and immediately after the premiere, things got intense such that “he stabs her” was the trending topic. The male lead Wei Zhao, played by Ren Jialun stabs Li Landi’s heroine Jiang Ci without hesitation—no mercy at all—his thoughts only concentrated on his task. In reality, there’s no love for her as she’s caught between the two men: first, she gets attacked by Wei Zhao, and then Pei Yan delivers her another punch from behind. I thought that was awful enough, but it gets even worse. She’s stabbed, and poisoned, and the male lead even sadistically presses at her wound!
A Heroine Trapped Between Two Ruthless Men
Love of Nirvana mixes politics, retribution, and romance in a historical drama scenario. The male lead Xiao Wu Xia who goes undercover as Wei Zhao is unquestionably cruel, driven by retribution. His parents were slain, his people enslaved, and he’s not just fighting for personal vengeance—he’s fighting for the dignity of his people. He’s certain of his purpose even as he finds his match in the heroine.
As for Pei Yan, the second male character played by Jeremy Xu Zhengxi, he’s also not your love-struck rival. He appears sweet, friendly, and compassionate, but it’s all manipulation. He’s saved Jiang Ci several times, pretending to become closer to her, yet watches as Jiang Ci is tortured, simply to capture the assassin.
Jiang Ci, played by Li Landi, is constantly in distress, but she’s no fool. She’s careful, smart, and doesn’t want to become a pawn between Wei Zhao and Pei Yan. Her purpose is simple: to flee. Honestly, though, you really start feeling sorry for the character who’s in the running for the most miserable heroine—how is she even alive?
Ren Jialun Deviates from His Usual Male Lead Lead
As for Allen Ren Jialun, who’s recognized for many historical idol dramas as a decent guy, he’s still the protagonist here. But this time, his character is morally gray. Just count how many times he’s tried to assassinate the heroine already! The main pull of the plot thus far resides in the power struggle between the two male characters and the woman caught between them. How will the heroine ever fall in love with him? With all the stress, it wouldn’t be shocking if this drama had a terrible ending.
While the political scheming in Love of Nirvana might not be the most intricate, if you don’t think too hard, the introduction is paced effectively, grabbing you from the outset. And with Jeremy Xu Zhengxi completing the love triangle, it’s a joy to see the actor given how this may be among his last shows. So far, though, I don’t like either guy for the heroine!
