Nuelian means 'tormented love'. Nue is cruelty or torment, and the label covers love stories built on separation, sacrifice and pain, in which the leads keep hurting each other. The related word nue ju, 'torment drama', names the screen version, and critics use weiernue, 'torment for the sake of torment', when the suffering feels like it exists only to move the audience. Overdo is described this way in Chinese coverage, and Royal Nirvana is filed under nue ju.
Dramas
Where it comes up
