While I was visiting my parents, we watched episodes 1 - 4 of Nirvana in Fire. Possibly getting a bit desperate for new things in a world currently depriving them of cinema, days out, and the art gallery, and having heard me go on about how amazing it was* they volunteered to try an episode. I said that they needed to watch the first two episodes to get a sense of what it is like, and despite the first 5 mins of dodgy CGI and the next 90 minutes of trying to keep track of who everyone is** they were quite open to suggestions that we move on to 3 and 4 on subsequent rainy afternoons. But watching to indulge your Covid-addled daughter is one thing, to carry on is another.

Over the past week or so, they found them on the TV YouTube app and watched 5 and 6. On Saturday night they watched 7 and 8 in a row. Yesterday, my father printed out a family try and character guide (with photos) from the internet. There's no turning back at this point.

Having watched it solo, though with much discussion with azdak, it is interesting watching other people experience it for the first time IRL and go through the same "WTF is going on, argh, I can't keep up. Oh thank God, Commander Meng, I know who he is" experience. The Crown Prince is a baddie on sight because he has a dodgy moustache (and admittedly tried to have his brother assassinated). Prince Yu is not. My mother insists on calling Mei Changsu the Divine Intervention and is disappointed at signs that Prince Yu may not be a goodie after all. I am going to stay again in September, I think that might work out at just in time for Jingrui's birthday party...

Suggestions for the best moment to break the news to them about the yeti are welcome. I think I have to, though I shall frame it as "there's a bit of a weird sequence in which we are given a pseudo-scientific explanation for yetis".

I now have a list NiF fic ideas plus growing pile of notes. Fortunately, they are largely of the short spin off from canon idea, which is very considerate of them because I don't want epic new plots just now, thank you very much, whereas a straightforward one-shot is nice. Though I may have to buy a book of Chinese poetry as the challenge of coming up with titles is even worse than usual.

*"It's so exciting! Shen Zhui is trying to reduce corruption in disaster relief"

**It struck me that the Chinese viewer has a major additional clue in telling Lin Shu and Lin Chen apart, because the latter's first appearance in a new face is heralded by his holding a bracelet that reads "Lin Shu", which is not subtitled.