tsuyoi_hikari

They are arranged to be married by the Emperor and they happen to fall in love with each other without knowing each other identities at the beginning of the drama. At one point in the drama, Fan Xian said to his sister whether he would he be so lucky that the girl he falls in love with is the one that he's going to get married but his sister said its impossible as Wan'er is sick. They are fiancee in this season as they only get married in the 2nd season.

I know a lot of people are not satisfied with the ending but to me its a clear cut good ending. The 2ML told him that she wont be back, but the ML understood her more and knew she will. In the last scene, it shows the ML finally found the FL again at the migratory bird house that he build for her and smiles. In the narration to himself, he said;

''If you appear before me once again, I won't let you run away.
Because all those missed opportunities at age 18, were for our better reunion today..''

which is a clear indication that they are together at the end.

8/10 - This is the type of drama where the journey is worth it. Somehow a very realistic story about one-sided love. You don't cried yourself to sleep every night or feel constantly hurt but you are just happy to be beside him and present in his life. During the duration of the drama, both the FL and ML always have great relationship with each other as they are the best of friends. So its actually a really nice story on how they handle the trials and turbulences in their lives and their never ending support and trust to each other during the different points of their lives.

The FL is really great, smart, kind and had amazing strength and personality so you cant help but to root for her all the way through. And the ML is really nice, sweet, loyal and overall really awesome and had always treat the FL the best even when he may realize his feelings a bit late but once he knew, he loves her his whole heart and she is always his #1.

8/10 - I actually really enjoy this. It is really fun and the cases are interesting and the 3 of them had really awesome chemistry with each other. The inside jokes are the best, clever and sometimes very informative and it is the funniest when they are together in their private time. Zhang Ruoyun looks really really handsome as Dr. Qin ♥ and I love how calm he is in everything. This is a perfect drama to watch to release stress since it just make you feel entertained and happy.

There is no violence or sex. When they mean graphic -- the corpse. Like in the first episode, they did show the hands after being fried in oil and other disgusting stuffs. And in the other episode, a badly wet corpse with lots of worms....

There is romance (little) but its not the main theme of the drama. But I personally really like the romance though. Wan'er is portrayed as someone wickly, soft but at the same time smart. And she is more like his strength rather than his weakness -- she is like the buffer for Fan Xian against the world and the one he goes for solace when he is having a hard time.

Ahh this one. Its the only one in the series that I watched lol. Zhang Ruoyun was perfect as Dr. Qin. And the chemistry between the 3 of them are the best! :D

Interesting but the reasons given by fans doesnt really make sense either. Young Chinese actors churned out like 3 dramas per year while those who started late as actor (and find popularity later in their career) also churned out around 2/3 dramas per year. I just didnt understand Xiao Zhan's case tbh.

I really thought because he is so busy with ads, he didnt have time to act that much anymore. I bet he's being offered many roles but he's being very selective. You know, like South Korea actors, once they hit it big, they only release like 1 drama per 2 or 3 years. I thought Xiao Zhan is like that as well.

IDK, for someone like Xiao Zhan who hit it big after The Untamed, I expect him to be more active in dramas. Even Yibo churned out more frequent works than him. Plus, I wonder whether he will be back for Joy of Life 2? I mean for a masterpiece like JOL, I even willing to be an extra lol.

Which one is the original?

Will surely do! :D

Kang Hanuel looks like he hasnt take a shower for 300 thousand years. X'D

You are so right. What I noticed with historical Cdramas is they went straight to action (I love it so much!). Its actually a drag to finish the childhood parts tbh for me. The only sageuk childhood story that I actually love is Yisan since man, that boy is precious and a genius! :D

Ohh I love historical dramas with Cao Cao, Sima Yi, Zhuge Liang, etc. They are all geniuses that exist at the same time and doing some really interesting, brilliant, cruel stuffs. Like I always said, the level of Chinese political mind games are on different level. You are only a piece of chess whether you like it or not lol.

I watched sageuk with non-royal theme and all ended tragically. Slave Hunter scarred me for life and Warrior Baek Dong's ending pissed me off to no end. Iljimae also has terrible ending despite not having any royal. Thanks writers...

Thank you. :D

The ML (Communist) finally got the Return to Zero plan and managed to escaped. But while doing so, he staged his own death so the enemies thought he is dead. He supposed to run away with the FL (newly turned Communist, before this she's a Nationalist), but when he arrived at the meeting place, it turned out the Communist has assign her to stay at Shanghai with another mission.

After the WWII ended and Japanese occupation is over, which is 4 years later, the ML comes back to Shanghai and continue being a spy for the Communist. Now its no longer Japan vs Chinese but Communist vs Nationalist (civil war). The FL turned out was assigned as a Communist spy in Nationalist party (her old party didnt know she converted) so she saved the ML from getting caught by the Nationalist. She is happy to see him and the drama ended.

Yes, indeed. I actually like Sparrow. It is really nerve-wrecking and full of suspense. And Xiaonan is indeed awesome. The best spy among all of them -- even Chen Shen was caught off-guard with her revelation. And tbh, the only time I shed tear is when she said 'she is happy to be neighbor wih Shanhai even in afterlife. So she wont be lonely'. ';_; IDK, the way she said it, it was just so sad since I was already very angry when they killed Shanhai 10 episodes before the drama ends. :((

Ohh I love Joy of Life the most out of all dramas I have watched in my life. When you are seasoned watchers, some thing are just predictable. But Joy of Life just throw all the predictability out of the window. It is very refreshing. And I esp like it that they balanced the sad and happy parts equally. Its only Fan Xian vs the Evil world. While he may lead a turbulence life, but at the same time he had great supports in term of his family and friends. And he even have a fantastic love life. Many dramas like to make their leads have this tragic life one after another and the suffering never ends lol until the end haha so I really love balance story like this. Watching it is indeed 'joy of life' all the way through.

I tried Young Blood for 6 episodes late last year but decided not to continue since the story didnt grab me. But I will probably pick it up again due to your recs. ^^;

Perhaps I should try The Disguiser after this. I finished Nirvana in Fire years ago but havent watch that one yet despite many of the casts are similar. It is also the highest rated espionage drama in MDL

But in 100 days My Prince, we always know he is a prince with amnesia. I thought when you mean secretly a king, they do not know their origin (secret child) either until it is revealed later in the drama.

Historical dramas mostly do not end with a happy endings because they need to follow the actual history since their characters are based on actual historical figures. And those people during that time usually get killed at the end. Yi San for an example is a great king and achieved many things during his reign. However, we all know his end.. King during that time is either puppets or if they are righteous, they will get killed for their new ideas.

But sometimes, creative writers do successfully write happy endings for tragic real life historical events. Take example of Secrets of the 3 Kingdoms. In the drama, they follow exactly like the history (since China censorship do not allowed to change history) so the Queen is bound to die. But in the drama, they only staged the poison drinking so the Queen actually survives. However, the whole world thought she is dead except 2 people and she remains dead in the history book. They also made the Emperor close like brothers with Sima Yi which did not happen in real history lol since they are enemies but the friendship only happen behind the close door and no one knows it except a few people. Thus the 'secrets' in the title of the drama. :D Smart writers can find their ways with how they construct the plots so once in a while, you will find interesting stories which follow the actual tragic history but ended with a happy note instead.

Yes, I have to agree on this. The chemistry between the leads are the main point on making it extra romantic. The Princess' Man for an example has one of the best chemistry I have seen in historical Kdramas.