This review may contain spoilers
Low expectation but ended up Jaw dropping
StoryBefore i watch this drama, i just finished watching Nirvana in Fire i think NIV is of the best drama that can pair with Game of Thrones in this genre. But after i watch Joy of Life, damn...i find another historical drama with intense political intrigue as good as NIV. The better thing in Joy of Life, there is not only one hella smart person, there are many ! (Fan Xian, Emperor of Qing, Chen Ping Ping, Shen Zong even the unexpected one - the 2nd Prince! ).
I love the ending how Yan Bing Yun choose to kill Fan Xian, it's going to be more intense later when someday he will find the truth about his real identity as Xiao En's grandson and he finds out that Fan Xian has known it for long time and choose to hide it considering this truth will ruin Yan's life.
Finally can't wait to see Fan Xian resurrected and i believe he will get more memories about his past life.
Cast : more than Excellent !
Honestly i dont know much about Zhang Ruo Yun but must admit it..the cast director did a great job to choose him as male lead. He has so many facial expressions and i love it. He can potray Fan Xian very well ! smart, manipulative, deliquent, loyal friend and easy to win people's heart.
Music : overall is good, only there is one part that sound likes Italian modern music which is not suit for historical drama.
Rewatch : Do it if you have spare times. But i prefer to move on to my wishlist drama that i haven't watched yet.
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is this what they call an “isekai”—except not that much, admittedly
TLDR; The cinematography is amazing, and for the most part, the transitions are so smooth. I watch for the romcom, so this one had spotty rom parts but definitely didn't lack on the com. So many plot twists I almost forget this was a story within another story. What a cliffhanger tho.. Acting is amazing, and even the minor characters have phenomenal performances. Music is pleasant to listen to, although bgm doesn’t always use more traditional instruments since it’s like an “informal” historical drama (you’ll see what I mean in the first ep). Rewatch value is one-and-done for me just bc it’s p long, but still amazing nonetheless.Story: This is the most chillest emperor I've seen in a drama, but that's also probably bc this show is more lighthearted than others. There are a ton of funny peak moments and interactions between characters that somehow fits into the dramatic/serious scenes. Something I've noticed that I haven't seen in other mystery-type shows is the parts where they replay scenes when they have different context, which I find rlly helpful, since there are so many eps. There are a lot of calculating ppl in the story, so it’s hard to keep track of how that ties into motives or story since I kinda just go w/ the flow, and I don’t try to theorize what happens next bc my brain is too small for all that.
Acting/Cast: Sheesh for the lightheartedness this show usually has, when smth goes down, the actors don't disappoint. Each character has their own quirks, and they're lovely in their unique way. The ml's snarkiness adds to the comedy aspect and makes it more enjoyable. I also like how not every fem character is a love interest, and it's refreshing to see a best friend dynamic that's just them hanging out and complaining about life's woes.
Music: I was surprised to hear 李建 singing the intro haha, but it does foreshadow events in the story. Bg music is very silly but enjoyable nonetheless.
Rewatch value: Lots of stuff/clues to look for after a rewatch, though that is a bit off-putting since there’s so many eps, and like I said before, once the plot gets new info, it replays flashbacks w/ new context. Not to mention there’s a S2, so I think this one is a one-and-done for me. Good show regardless!
—我们都要好好活着，对吧？
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Good concept & great implementation. A MUST WATCH
This series is so worth the time to watch. It is different from typical period story. Actors did excellently and portrayed their characters well. I only wish that they introduced the series with the story of the lead male mother. Interesting to see the development of the story explaining her but it seems lacking and minimized. Although her story seemed she was loved & admired by many men, it didn’t really highlight as to why.The blind martial arts mentor could be explored more. I love his character. I was wishing for more story on him.
I just realized Xiao zhang is in the cast and missed it in ep 38. I was so engrossed in the story, I glossed over his short appearance.
PLEASE PLEASE RELEASE SEASON 2 SOON!!!
I’m glad there’s a season 2 being prepared for this series.
Ending is now acceptable for me since there is a sequel coming.
7/16/23 - When is the second season coming??? I am anticipating this season 2.
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Zhang Ruoyun delivers an extraordinary performance as Fan Xian, a young man who navigates a world of power and deceit armed only with wit, intelligence, and an unshakable moral core. He’s charming and idealistic yet never naive — a modern mind trapped in an ancient world. His journey from curiosity to conviction is beautifully written and deeply human.
The supporting cast is nothing short of stellar. Chen Daoming’s calm authority as the Emperor, Wu Gang’s layered complexity as Chen Pingping, and Li Qin’s grace as Lin Wan’er all bring depth to a world where loyalty and betrayal coexist in delicate balance. Every conversation feels like a chess match, and every glance hides meaning.
What makes “Joy of Life” remarkable is its tonal balance. One moment it’s a tense political thriller; the next, it’s laugh-out-loud funny. The writing is razor-sharp, blending modern sensibility with classical beauty, while the cinematography and costume design immerse viewers in a richly detailed world.
Beneath the intrigue, the show explores timeless questions: What is justice? What is freedom? And how does one preserve innocence in a corrupt world?
“Joy of Life” is more than entertainment — it’s a philosophical adventure wrapped in humor, heart, and brilliance. A true gem of Chinese television, and one that only grows deeper with every rewatch.
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This review may contain spoilers
A mixed of historical, comedy, romance & politics
Woooooow! This was a great watch!!! This is my first time watching a drama with Zhang Ruo Yun and he is really good. I like his character, it was giving playful but serious.Guo Bao Kun is such a funny character, I really enjoyed the scene where he got a group of men to help him with his mission. Those scenes were hilarious.
I still dont know how Wu Zhu does what he do lol
I tried my best not to miss anything because I know there is a season 2.
I personally loved how it didn't focus too much on the romance part because it was all about him finding out who killed his mom and he got mixed up with the royal family and that took a turn on his life.
The scenes with him and Si Li Li, you would think he liked her back because he kept looking at her with a caring look and then came along Haitang Duo Duo. This is where I got worried that he may have fallen for her and he won't make it back to Lin Wan Er LOL I lost faith, okay!!!! LOL
I am glad that they have some form of respect and understanding between them. I hope Si Li Li, wont cause any trouble in season 2.
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Everyone loves Fan Xian
I’m late to the party and I apologise for this. JoY slipped past me when it was released in 2019. With season 2 coming, I though, it is time to take the plunge.Seeing that there are dozens of reviews, I don’t see much point in breaking down the series in the usual way. I’ll just shares some thoughts and my expectations for the new season.
I know this will be heresy to some, but the show didn’t hook me at first. I did binge watched it and really enjoyed the series in the end. However, it was more due to perseverance than the classic “unmissable from the first scene!” vibe. In hindsight, I think there are several reasons but chiefly, the show was always meant to have more than 1 season so the first 46 eps are just a long way to set up the overarching main plot. I can see a parallel with The Fellowship of the Ring. That movie was a little unfocused and stilted compared to the rest of the LoTR series too and for a good reason.
Another aspect is that the ML is a bit annoying at first. Those were the days when you are literally asking for a beating just by looking at an official the wrong way and yet the ML is so cocksure that he is thumbing his nose at all and sundry and he gets away with it. It all make sense later on but it didn’t leave a great first impression.
This leads us to the next point; the ML really leads a charmed life. He can pull off crazy stints and “lucky” escapes. It might be fun to watch but when you consider the seriousness of the various plots, it does feel a bit flippant. This also runs contrary to the notion that the ML is smart, resourceful and strong but then he’d get “rescued” repeatedly.
I am happy to see the love line between Xian and Wan’er being so sweet and straightforward. It could have been so messy like in many other costume dramas. Small blessing, I suppose. However, in a nod to the classic martial arts novels of the last century, almost every eligible bachelorette is falling in love with Fan Xian. I can certainly see the attraction and he will need a big stick to fend them off in S2.
The OST is nice, especially the main themes. However, the show does have this habit of using some zany, jazzy music to signal a funny scene. It is a valid technique but it is more suited to a modern sitcom than an historical drama. It can be quite jarring at times.
In the end, there are plots within plots and secrets hiding more secrets so I’m not surprised that it will take over 100 eps to see it to conclusion. It is looking promising for the next season and if the production value and acting is maintained (more likely to be surpassed) then it should be an even bigger hit. The heightened expectations will ensure that.
All in all, it was worth the hype. Not quite the best costume drama I have ever watched but it certainly sets up the next season nicely. The unveiling story left me with more questions than answers. Bring on season 2!
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The initial premise is great: what if someone with modern sensibilities, good coping mechanisms, kind, generous and humorous were placed into a traditional wuxia storyline? For the first 10 episodes, you get subversions after subversions of the drama formula, 'misunderstandings' are cleared up, people who are bad turn good and good turn bad etc.
As the novelty wore off, I just didn't care that much about the fates of the characters - I didn't care who won the succession fight, or if the main romance prevailed. There was just so many minor characters and one oversized lead, that it was hard for me to get invested.
This is despite excellent, distinctive acting. This has a huge cast, yet I could keep track of most all the characters and their varying plotlines and was fond of many of them.
I loved the opening credits song, and enjoyed a lot of the music. I wouldn't rewatch - again just wasn't very invested in any particular scene.
I grade on other criteria as well:
Complex Themes - 8
The main theme is having mature coping mechanisms, humor, kindness and generosity will keep you on the right path despite all the wrong around you.
Character Growth - 4
Too many characters to have meaningful character growth, and the main lead is presented as close to perfect as is - just a bit overconfident.
Complex Women Characters/Plotlines - 7
The women are incredibly intriguing with distinct plot lines and characters, but the main lead and his problems and feelings take up so much center stage, there just isn't real space to develop the female characters other then as plot devices to help the male lead.
Production/Cinematography - 10
Really, truly beautiful with lots of interesting scenes shot in different ways, varied sets, lavish costumes. On par with the best aesthetics in C-dramas I've seen.
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Intriguing plot twist and turns, multi-dimensional schemes, philosophical, touching, something to laugh about, cry about, to 'ahhh' about, ponder about, get excited about, to cheer about. There were some moments when things didn't seem to quite make sense, or seemed disappointing. Every time, I just trusted the makers, and the significance was revealed later.
I watched the entire season twice, and it was just as good the second time around in the process of discovering many things I actually missed the first time. Highly recommend watching!!
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Thoroughly entertaining!
I was hesitant in watching this as the synopsis and the poster give an impression that this is a profound political drama. Don't be fooled! I am glad I didn't procrastinate watching it. This is a thoroughly entertaining drama and one of the best I have seen from east Asia not just from China.This drama has a unique blend of interesting characters, fantastic humor, amazing action and crazy plot twists, all nicely woven together by a great story. I am not exaggerating, trust me. The director did a fantastic job in mixing heavy scenes with light, fun ones. Whenever you start to think the show is getting serious, the next scene will make you laugh. You will also notice that the stunts and all action is general is of high quality.
If I had to nitpick, the only area that was lacking is OST, no song grabbed my attention unlike how other Chinese dramas such as The Untamed have done before. On the other hand they have done a good job with their quirky and modern background music.
What's more you ask? This is just the first season, there is more to come. I can't wait to watch the second season and immerse myself in this magical world again. Till then I can only re-watch this to satiate my hunger.
I can't recommend this enough especially if you enjoy political dramas or humor filled dramas or both ;)
Get some popcorn and start watching now, you won't regret it.
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Most of drama’s only main leads are the unforgettable and outstanding.but in this drama every character is best in it’s own way.after this drama zhang ruo yun also became my one of favorite actor.Actually I can’t mention any of weak points in this drama.this drama deserves awards.I finished all episodes in 4 days now I’m waiting for season two.Waiting is the hardest thing .please release season 2 as soon as possible with all previous actors.
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Joy of Life is now my whole personality
It's not like this show needs anymore reviews talking about how good it is, but Joy of Life has completely taken over my brain and I have THOUGHTS.First of all, this doesn’t pertain to anything, but I’ve been waiting to watch this drama for over a year because my sister watched it, loved it, and told me there was a huge cliffhanger at the end. So I didn’t want to watch it until we had some idea of when the second season would be out. So I waited…and waited…and then heard rumors about filming and then about possible release dates. Until last week I saw it finally confirmed that the second season would come out in a little over ONE WEEK. I despaired thinking there was no way I could watch 46 episodes in a little over a week while having a job and you know, being an adult. Boy was I wrong. It’s exactly a week later and I’m done.
Not only is this a testament to my lack of social life but it’s also a testament to how excellent Joy of Life is. The plot grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go for the entirety of the show. I tend to skip scenes in most cdramas, and usually I’m not missing much, but whenever I tried to skip something in this show, I realized that I’d just skipped something important and had to rewind. That’s the whole show; you need to be paying attention or you’ll miss something.
Plot aside, this drama could’ve fallen on its face if it didn’t have the actors that it did. All of the older actors are really excellent, but it’s Zhang Ruo Yun who carries this whole thing on his back. Without him, I don’t think the show would work. For the audience to root for a character like Fan Xian the actor has to be charismatic and engaging and not smug or arrogant, and Zhang Ruo Yun pulls it off perfectly. He’s acting circles around some of the younger actors in here (no disrespect to any of them).
Yeah, so while I’m sad that I didn’t watch this masterpiece sooner, I’m also happy with my choice to wait until the new season was about to drop. That way I didn’t have to wait in anticipation for years for the payoff to the cliffhanger.
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ONE OF THE BEST CDRAMAS EVER!!!
I watched this drama in 2020 when I was still new to cdramas cause I heard about it and for me to hear about a drama that means that it really had to make an impact. I started this drama without knowing about the plot or actors and I kid you not I was hooked from the 1st ep😆😆.The child actor nailed his role, and every other cast member too, the drama was so intriguing and made me so curious to know what happened next. The plot, the acting, the fight scenes, the emotions were all 💯💯 . I have to say that Zhang RuoYun is Fan Xian and Fan Xian is him. I couldn't have thought of anyone who could bring this character to life like he has.
I would have written a review long ago but bcs this drama ended in a cliffhanger and they made me wait for 4 yrs for S2 I decided not to write it but with S2 coming out I can finally write this long overdue review😁😁
THIS DRAMA IS TRULY A MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!
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