dianalg

I think you are disappointed because of your expectations - how a story should be told. It is natural. But JOY2 is quite realistic as it depicts an extraordinary man. Life is not as simple as one thinks. You may love someone (as that special romantic one) but not spend a lot of time with him/her. Several reasons: 1. FX's 'work' takes him away from LWR (as told in the book and drama) . 2. FX's life is very complicated being the illegimate child of the emperor, being used as a pawn, caught in the power struggle, fighting to survive and for the common folks. In doing so, he has dealings with many many 'women'. 3. Most of the happy moments spent with LWR is outside of the book and drama at the end which is not shown. We know he lived happily in peace with his wife and kids til old age . 4. There are many types of love. When one is older and have more experiences, one realises that romantic love is not everything and only thing.
The other Main factor is this drama storyline has been modified. In the novels, FX is likely not a one woman-man - he had multiple women. This is of course not 'suitable' for a tv show, so it has been modified. If he is depicted as a womaniser, he will not meet the expectations of a modern audience. Few among us would like a ML that has multiple wives!

Ya....its in a different category - definately very entertaining, beautiful colours and movements (like watching MTV videos), 90% of the actors are eye candies - enjoying it more than I will admit.

I just realised that familiar face belongs to a famous Taiwanese actress! She was the darling of romance dramas (queen of ratings) back in 2000's and now she makes a great antoganist. She is quite mesmerising to watch.

100% Agree...They are the best actors of their generation- The actor who plays the emperor - Such presence! Such charisma. Then the next generational actors after him -the actors who plays CPP & WQN (he won a prestigious award) and the actress who played the Royal Princess. Kudos! ZRY is the third generational talent; oh at least on his way. They breathe life into their characters.

Unlike you, I watch it as the episode is released (with bad subs), then revise it (with good subs) and finally the third round (when all episodes have been released) to finally understand this intricate drama. It is well-written (perhaps not like Season 1 which is more fun as it uses a lot of puns and Chinese literature) but it reveals through the actions of the characters just how cruel, perverted the antoganists are (emperor, crown prince, royal princess, 2nd prince and the corrupt officials like the Mings). They toy with the ordinary people and disregard them like ants (the Jins, The Shijia town, the Chief Censor). Qing Kingdom is rotten to the core. Fan Xian's mother escaped from the Temple with the technologies and knowledge and illegally shared them with these people hoping to push civilization forward....alas...it is just as corrupt and doomed to fail. Fan Xian is no longer invinsible (as in Season 1) but is vulnerable and seems to fight helplessly against the corruption and power struggle. So in a sense it is no longer 'light' and 'fun' like Season 1 but it is darker and heavier - I felt the anguish and shed tears for the Jins, the Censor, Shijia town and even for all the scholars who put their hopes in the Examination System which outwardly is the perfect chance for the poor to change their fate but inwardly so corrupt that even before the exams begin, the selection is already done. Imagine you, before you even apply for your dream job, the successful applicant has been decided based on who one knows and which family one comes from. Urg!

A bit of romance, lots of love. 1. Love of Father-Child. FX's 3 'fathers' for him. 2. Love for a friend/soulmate- FX & WZN, FX &Teng Ji Zing in first season. FX & DD, 3. Love for family. The Fan family. Grandmaster Ye & his clan. 4. Love for the country. Yan Bing Yuan & Qing. 5. Love for a mentor (Fan-IdolLove). RR & FX. FX's mom's fan club. 6. Obsessive love - Princess Lin & the Emperor, Crown Prince & Princess Lin. 7. Romantic love - FX & LWE 8. Love for the common folks - FX's mom and the human race. FX & the common folks. The main theme of JOY is 1 & 8. Last but not least, love of the audience for JOY 1 & 2 !

Thank you. really enjoyed the series through out. Love the main characters and the side characters- each with their own story. So far the most enjoyable series in 2024. Last year's was the The Mysterious Lotus Casebook. Thank you to the producer, directors and casts.

I had a feeling that T would be eliminated. Is it just me or there is this undertone of nationalism in the voting...several times during the dance-off, the non-korean teams looked stronger but lost. Or if they do get the vote, the judges had to explain why. So far the professional judges are more discerning (than last year's fiasco at the beginning of SMF). May the best win (and not what has been agreed upon in their contracts unlike some competitions).

This is really good, didn't expect it. It started slowly but it is building up in terms of characterization and conflict. The actors (male and female) are on point (but not idolish/candish, excuse the language). It shines light on the horrors of being a woman, being poor and being powerless. But the different interesting characters choose to fight back. If you are hesitant to watch this, don't be.

Really enjoyed this travel music dance show. The dancers are fantastic in their respective genres. The music choices are to my taste. The places they visited brings back memories of LA and makes me even more keen to visit New York. The music director, Henry, is really good at he does. Chuja and Henry did a great job including the man who did the sounds. The people (audience) were fantastic good sport. Thank you.

Watch it as it unfolds. You will not regret! so far only 2 dramas this year has me patiently religiously watch them as they unfold. Extraordinary Attorney Wo , the Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty and now this one... and it is the best thus far.

Yes, he has won all the Korean prestigious awards (far beyond the KBS, SBS, MBC ones) such as Baeksang, APAN and Grand Bell, Blue Dragon. He just needs an International one. I loved all his works since noticing him in Misaeng.

The culprit behind the murder of grandfather and Do Jun, yes. But how about the in the first two episode...on the original character of Yoon? I don't remember seeing her in the first episode.

Giving this a try after watching Lee Sung Min in Reborn Rich and Shadow Detective. Such a brilliant actor. Going to watch all his series.

Mother of all questions: Who is the mastermind behind all the attempted assasinations? Your guess...

I think it depends on the show. If it is light hearted, fun and enjoyment type, yes, it is politically correct to postpone it. This drama is melo and sad. It might help some of its viewers to cry and release their pent up feelings.
Other than being politically correct, victims and mourners have to try to get back to their routine as much as possible for their own mental health.
It is normal and healthy to grieve. It was a tragic and horrifying thing that happened. Instead, we have to stop finding fault, finding scrap goats and turning it into something political and allow people to grieve for awhile. My deepest condolences to all families and people who lost their loved ones.

It sounded like he is saying that it is not 100% plagiarism as it (dance sequence) is used for a different setting/story. Whatever it is, it is ethical to give credit where it is due. The sequence looks very much like the one in Ateez's. It wouldn't hurt to acknowledge it. Sometimes I think all these 'negative' news are used to hype up the show. Example, just when Rain is using his DOMESTIC song in his appearance on SMF, there is that unfounded rumor of infidelity. It just looks so suspicious in its timing! So yah...'There is no such thing as bad publicity'.

Lu Ling Feng and Pei Xi Jun; Su Wu Ming and Ying Tao. But it is a small plot tool. Don't expect too much.

Thanks! It just flew over my head...I was thinking what show it was that I have not seen before. LOL. Then i agree with PeachBlossomGoddess humble opinion. The Imperial Coroner was really neat too especially the drawings. But the 2 lead characters were not colourful like Su Wu Ming, Lu Ling Feng and even ChickenFed. I love all the characters (even the side ones) esp Su Wu Ming.

Enjoyed this series through out. It is well done in terms of plot and intrigue. Maybe not the best but really enjoyed it. Comparable to Ancient Detective which is slower but also well done. But the ending of AD is left hanging which i didn't like with no sight of Season 2. At least this ends properly but leaves you thinking of the bigger villain behind it all.