It had a good amount of martial arts, humor, and a great storyline. This is only the first season!
Fan Xian is the main male lead of the drama. He is a smart, sarcastic, and cunning man. He knows how to speak his way out of things, he also have great martial arts skills. Did I mention he's quite funny as well? :) I just love his character so much! The actor did a wonderful job in playing this character! His subtle expressions are hilarious. XD
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Joy of Life is a fast-paced show with very little boring moments. It is also very witty, filled with puns (that are difficult to wrap your head around sometimes) and scheming characters. There is a nice balance between the light-hearted comedy and the darker politics of the palace. Not all characters are who they seem to be, and the true enemy is hidden in the shadows, only revealed at the very end. While I think the plot is overall cohesive, the genre fluctuates slightly. Is it a historical fantasy drama? Mostly. Are there themes of science-fiction? Yes. It is difficult to summarise Joy of Life into one genre, because it has hints of several genres, including wuxia and science fiction.
Out of all the female characters, I think Fan Xian and Li Waner have the weakest chemistry. The show thrusts us into a sort of "love at first sight" between the main couple, and then slowly builds chemistry. I think they are cute together, but the chemistry between Fan Xian and Haitang Duoduo was much stronger and believable in my opinion. In the book, Fan Xian's relationships with the women is extremely different (from what I've heard, Fan Xian has a harem), but has been changed in the show. Quite a few things have been changed in the show (because of censorship), so the plot is slightly different from the novel.
Overall, a good show that balances palace/country politics as well as comedy.
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This review may contain spoilers
Joy of Life is the story of Fan Xian who is born knowing the modern world in feudal times. The story follows him as he movs to the capital and falls in love, and basically walks the tightrope on court politics and the royal family.What I liked about the drama was the outstanding acting. Everyone was great in their roles. The male lead was outstanding. The story although it could be dragging in parts and slow was complex and interesting most of the time. Everyone has layers and they are neither really good or bad. I am a huge fan of Xiao Zhan so even though he wasn't in many episodes and he played a very unsympathetic character, he was still very nice to look at and appreciate! The music was good, not great but I've listened to the opening and closing dongs multiple times.
What I didn't like.... let me start with since there is a season 2 some of this may be resolved but there were things that I didn't really like. First I am not certain I am supposed to care about the main love story. The two were barely together so I really have no interest in the love story at all. In fact I found the mail lead much more interesting with Si Lili and especially Haitang Duoduo. Ideally Fan Xian should end up with Haitang Duoduo. Also, the story with Qi was a little confusing as the last part of the show was all new characters and you do not see any of the original set of characters. I missed Xian's sister Ruoruo, and his father and step-mother. I was invested in the characters and then they were just gone. I missed Uncle Wuzhu and what happened to him??? Again that may be fixed in season 2. Plus they did it explain the frozen people and the god temple very well. The massive secret that kept Xiao En in jailer years was that he knew where the God Temple was but Chen Pingping was the only one that seemed to care. That whole episode was confusing to me.
One of the best things was the characters are so layered and complex, but it also makes it hard to like most of them. I am still not certain if the cares about Fan Xian. I do know his adopted father certainly does care about him. So basically liked the Fan Xian, Uncle Wuzhu, Fan Jian, Ruoruo, and Fei Jie leader of the third bureau. Everyone else I am not sure what to think about them. Again that is interesting but also left me not really caring.
STOP READING IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING
The show ends on a cliffhanger in the true sense of the word with Xian being stabbed and bleeding on the ground. I'm not sold that Yan Bingyun actually stabbed him and that this wasn't already planned. Yan Bingyun seemed to be listening to him and yes the bureau was his life, but it felt like there was a crack when Shen Zhong's sister was stabbed protecting him and he seemed upset when he heard what the second prince was doing to control Xian. I mean there was a whole not between the threats fo the second prince and the morning when Bingyun stabbed. That is just what I am thinking, but I haven't heard Xiao Zhan will be back for the second season.
Overall I liked it, but not like my favorite show, Would I watch again, maybe if I had nothing else to watch. Would I watch season 2 - yes cause I have to find out what happened to Uncle Wuzhu.
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If you get through the first 10 Episodes, it’s definitely worth it.
Alright so I definitely enjoyed watching this Drama, however I did find the first few (~10) Episodes a little boring to get through, there where some kind of funny scenes, but apart from that nothing was really happening... but I feel like a lot of historical Dramas start out a little dry, so I decided to keep watching and I was not disappointed.Let’s start off with actors and characters which was my absolutely favourite part about this: I liked all of the choices for the actors, I think they all fit their roles quite well and did a great job at portraying them. Now what I liked about those roles so much was that we (or at least I) got to build some kind of relationship or opinion with almost every character, even the less meaningful ones, so that when something concerning them happened I could actually feel with the plot.
Story: I have not read the book this is based on so I can’t say how this Drama delivered in comparison.
I for one really liked the plot and pretty much every aspect of it. You could hardly ever predict anything or trust anything or anyone. And I really liked that, that’s what kept it interesting for me.
I read some people complaining about how the romance arch developed, and I do understand that, however for the story that was happening I thought it actually fit quite well. And who knows what will happen in the following seasons.
Without spoiling anything, I do agree with the people that said that everything was evolving around the Main Lead a little too much.
Concerning the OST: I absolutely loved the Intro Song, however I do not have any memory at all of the remaining soundtrack, which usually means it was not terrible but also not very memorable.
In the End I do absolutely recommend to give this one a go. To me the plot was refreshing and interesting, with some minor problems.
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I have a different taste. Not my kind of drama.
I kind of like this chinese drama at first because the lead actor is so smart and strong but I don't feel excited at all to watch the next episodes. My interest declined slowly after each episodes. It is not the same with the previous drama series i have watched. This drama is kind of like Rise of the Phoenixes for me but is better.Im gonna stop watching this drama and delete the downloaded eps. I always gave chance to dramas until ep10 and if still cannot impress me that is the time to drop the drama.
Sorry.
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Great drama
Wang Juan delivers another great screenplay. My 2 favorite chinese dramas are his adaptions. Both Joy of Life and Sword Snow Stride have great main and secondary characters. All are well written and have interesting aspects that are integral to the story. By far the best written male characters that i've seen in all the chinese dramas that I've watched, with by far the most variations of personalities as well. I look forward to the second season.Was this review helpful to you?
به تمام معنی عالییی
از اون سریالایی بود که با اکراه شروعش کردم، دوسال تمام دانلودش کرده بودم ولی برای اینکه معمولا ژانر عاشقانه میبینم اصلا حوصله ی دیدنش و نداشتم ، بعد دوسال بالاخره از بیکاری نشستم پاش و از قسمت اول میخکوبم کرد پای سریال ، به معنای واقعی نویسنده ی سریال نخبه بوده، داستان سریال خیلی خوب و قوی و معمای جالبی داره که لحظه به لحظه میخکوبت میکنه پای سریال تا ببینی ته داستان چی میشهتا الان سه بار دیدمش و هنوز از دیدنش خسته نشدم
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Unexpectedly great one!
I came here after looking for a drama with good ratings. This wasn't my first choice since I didn't even know anyone here except xiao zhan, which after I read some of the review he just appeared like a recurring character. I've started this sometimes ago but gave up after a couple of episodes since for me the pace was too slow. Although, knowing that it has long episodes, it might be necessary for the whole story context. And well, it is.I started again about a week ago and try not to finish it all at once or else I'll give up again. Good thing I finished it. They really did a great job at hiding the clues scattered from beginning until it cracked at the end. FX was a clever yet such a people person. I really like his character. I won't say that I like the FL. After several times, I skipped their scene together. There are still some mysteries that uncovered, but maybe they saved it for the upcoming seasons.
At the end of the day, I can understand why this drama has such a high rating. I will try to catch up for the second season, hopefully it won't disappoint.
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This review may contain spoilers
Slow and Steady Makes The Perfect Bread
Joy of life has to a masterpiece of art in how to put a novel in a visual media, which clearly every other show has failed to most extend. Those who have not read the novel (its too detailed and often long winded for a visual drama) will not understand how amazingly the show has trimmed most fat and kept the simple stuff for anyone to enjoy. Yes, it removes the depth in many ways but it should not be overlooked how cool everything looks and the atmosphere of a historical drama is second to none.I have seen some historical drama after this and some had better character depth and story, however, this one was the most believable. The director actually put effort in providing us with enough data on where each important building is. How far from the castle everyone is and the walking time actually makes sense in most cases. The power system makes sense not like other drama where you just move around with sword and the main character wins in the end.
My favorite character is obviously the teacher (blind folded man) of the main character, like whose isn't? He has to be the coolest character ever seen in Chinese drama. The ambience is crazy whenever he is around. I have always loved OP characters done right. It is rare to see a over powered person being so limited in appearance still having so much impact in the story without taking the limelight from others. The novel writer was a genius and the director lived up to it.
The political drama makes so much sense, its often confusing who is the good and bad guy but it is what it should be "nuanced" I always loved moral gray area is the right place for leaders and their job is not to always do what is right but to do whatever to survive in the difficult world and every king and other leaders does that really well here.
The comedy mixed with depth really puts this show in another level of media where you cant help but be hooked to the screen. The main fault of this show is the length. The second season was slower than the first and if keeps up the third season is gonna be all political and no comedy with too much action to ruin the pacing. I just hope they bring back the slow and methodical pacing of the first season with more efficient delivery of comedy and richness.
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Confusing yet intriguing
LIKEAlmost everyone is grand master in martial arts
The fear everyone had when they hear about Chen Ping Ping's army
Wondering who Chen Ping Ping's secret bodyguard is
The time spent between Fan Xian and Xiao En
The relationship between Qing Emperor, Chen Ping Ping and Fan Jian
The silly Fan Si Zhe - Guo Qi Lin is forever comedic
Everything that revolved around Ye Qing Mei
DISLIKE
Ended abrubtly and finally after five years season two is out - gonna start soon
MUSIC
Yi Nian Yi Sheng 一念一生 - Li Jian 李健
REWATCH VALUE
Yes without a doubt
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I only had one quip of the storyline and that is... listen... I know men will be men but dang mostly in every drama I have seen, only two dramas men were loyal to the woman they love. The flirting mentality of a man I ask why all the teasing and temptations of different women in front of them when the character already is committed to one? I would love to see a drama series more than ONCE that a man is loyal to Love such as 10 miles of Peach Blossom (Eternal Love) or Legend of Fu Yao! I would love to see this in "Joy of Life"! This is just my opinion.
I know Joy of Life will be a great hit and have seen that it has already started winning awards for that Thank you!
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Simply superb!
Amazing amazing story! I’ve seen so many period dramas that I’ve loved, but they were all invariably slow paced. This one here is the most fast paced period drama I’ve ever come across and the story kept me engrossed, entertained, excited, scared, giggling, feeling sombre and wanting more! The story was thoroughly unpredictable, with so many twists and turns, but not a single dull moment throughout. Just when I felt I’m getting a grasp of what’s happening, the story would take a turn and leave me surprised and looking forward to what happens next. I’m so glad there is a season 2! I’m looking forward to the story ahead!Was this review helpful to you?
