Did You Like Nirvana in Fire? 3 Good Reasons to start watching 'The Story of Ming Lan Today'!

Why would someone in heaven’s name use Nirvana in Fire (NIF) to praise The Story of Ming Lan (TSOML)? Let me explain that in a sec, but first…

The goals of this post:

  1. Encourage you to start watching TSOML, and more important:

  2. Inspire you to join the Reddit discussion starting today—there’s a new weekly episode discussion for TSOML hosted by Redditor u/aulomu! Check it out here:

TSOML Episode Discussion - Join Today!

If you’re already a Ming Lan fan, please pitch in and help persuade others, especially younger or more hesitant viewers who might need a little extra nudge. So, what do Nirvana in Fire (NIF) and The Story of Ming Lan (TSOML) Have in Common?

TSOML is a great choice for NIF fans for several reasons:

  1. High-Quality Production: Both shows share Dreamlight Entertainment as the producer, ensuring top-tier performance, scriptwriting, cinematography, and drama excellence.
  2. Strategic Mindsets: If you loved the strategic palace dynamics in NIF, you’ll appreciate the strategic family dynamics in TSOML. While NIF plays out in a palace with competing princes, TSOML takes the strategy into a family setting where the women compete for power and influence. The same strategic mindset applies, but the stakes and players are different.
  3. Long-Term Plans: In both dramas, the protagonists spend 10-15 years developing and executing their plans, which are often about justice (or revenge). What stands out in both is the patience and determination to keep their goals in sight for over a decade. These characters display incredible emotional strength and composure over a long period of time, which is remarkable.

Major Differences (apart from their stories):

  • Main Themes: NIF focuses heavily on revenge, loyalty, and justice within a high-stakes political environment. TSOML, however, centers on personal growth, family dynamics, and romantic/affective relationships.
  • Tone and Pace: NIF has a darker, more intense tone, with a fast-paced narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. TSOML, in contrast, has a slower, more grounded pace, with a focus on detailed character development and the nuances of family and emotional relationships.

What Do You Gain from Overcoming the Slow-Pacing of a drama like TSOML?

A lot of viewers (including myself) agree: It’s totally worth finishing The Story of Ming Lan.

Here are two other potenital reasons:

• Personal Growth:

Yes, the slow pacing can feel repetitive or even discouraging at times, but by pushing through, you’re working on your patience and resilience. Every time you feel tempted to stop watching, you’re actually training yourself to persevere through challenges—something that will help you in other areas of life too.

• Emotional Sensitivity:

Overcoming the pacing challenge also means you’ll become more attuned to the emotional nuances of any drama. You’ll begin to notice subtleties and layers in the characters’ relationships and the narrative that might have gone unnoticed to you in faster-paced dramas. By the end, the experience will make you more emotionally sensitive, not just to TSOML but to the emotional depth of future dramas.

So, Why Wait?

If the slow pacing has been holding you back, just know that finishing The Story of Ming Lan brings a sense of accomplishment and rewards you in ways you might not expect. Start watching today and join the discussion!

But, if you think other wise, please feel invited to share your point of view in the comments below.