I have just completed the Joy Of Life S1 (庆余年) although this is an old drama from 2019. This series has such a huge following that we are now into the second season with a third on its way. With such high ratings, I can’t help but to get back to the first season to play catch up. Being an old drama, it is also fairly long at 46 episodes which is actually daunting for someone like me who has seen my fair share of Chinese productions. Nevertheless, I sat through it to prepare myself for S2 and here is my Joy Of Life S1 review.
My rating: 8.5/10
Episodes: 46
Type: Palace, Historical Romance
Aired: November 2019
Images Credit: Douban Movie
The Cast Of Joy Of Life S1
- Zhang Ruo Yun as Fan Xian
- Li Qin as Lin Wan Er
- Chen Dao Ming as Emperor of Qing
- Zhang Hao Wei as Li Cheng Qian
- Liu Duan Duan as Li Cheng Ze
- Li Xiao Ran as Li Yun Rui
- Du Yu Ming as Hong Si Xiang
- Li Zi Feng as Yan Xiao Yi
- Liu Run Nan as Li Hong Cheng
- Han Jiu Nuo as Ye Ling Er
- Yu Yang as Lin Ruo Fu
- Jason Kang as Lin Gong
- Dong Ke Fei as Lin Da Bao
- Gao Shu Guang as Fan Jian
- Karina Zhao as Liu Ru Yu
- Song Yi as Fan Ruo Ruo
- Guo Qi Lin as Fan Si Zhe
- Wu Gang as Chen Ping Ping
- Wang Yang as Teng Zi Jing
- Tian Yu as Wang Qi Nian
- Liu Hua as Fei Jie
- Hai Yi Tian as Zhu Ge
- Li Qiang as Yan Ruo Hai
- Tong Meng Shi as Wu Zhu
- Li Chun as Si Li Li
- Yu Jin Wei as Shen Zhong
Main Characters
Fan Xian
Fan Xian is the illegitimate son of Fan Jian who is a court official of Qing. He has a mysterious background with memories of a modern future. Fan Xian is intelligent with strong deductive powers. He appears as playful and carefree with an ability to make light of serious situations to save himself from trouble.
Lin Wan Er
Wan Er is the illegitimate daughter of a Prime Minister and a princess. She has weak health due to her tuberculosis. Wan Er is a little timid and leads a protective life with her second brother, Lin Gong, doting on her. She is kind and soft-spoken but has her own opinion when it comes to her own future.
Emperor Of Qing
The Emperor is a shrewd and stealthy person who hides his true intention. He is perceptive and reads people well. He can also be unforgiving and ruthless when it suits his objective. Eunuch Hou is his attendant while Gong Dian is his bodyguard.
Supporting Characters
Li Cheng Qian
Li Cheng Qian is the Crown Prince of Qing. He is fighting to keep his position and sees his elder brother as a threat. He appears as impatient but has the support of his aunt.
Li Cheng Ze
Li Cheng Ze is the 2nd Prince of Qing and the Crown Prince’s elder brother. Both siblings do not get along as they are fighting for the throne. Li Cheng Ze is more subtle in his actions and has an analytical mind. He has a capable guard named Xie Bi An who is a master swordsman.
Li Yun Rui
Li Yun Rui is the Royal Princess of Qing and the Emperor’s sister. She is also Wan Er’s mother. She is aligned to the Crown Prince and giving him advice and support. Li Yun Rui is controlling the state’s commercial enterprise called Neiku. She appears as soft and delicate but hides a sinister mind.
Hong Si Xiang
Hong Si Xiang is the Empress Dowager’s eunuch. He is also the head of eunuchs of the imperial palace. Eunuch Hong has strong powers with an ability to listen what others are saying from a distance.
Yan Xiao Yi
Xiao Yi is one of the Commanders of the Imperial Guards. He is a great archer who rarely misses a target.
Li Hong Cheng
Li Hong Cheng is the Crown Prince and 2nd Prince’s cousin. His father is Prince Jing who is the Emperor’s brother. He is aligned with the 2nd Prince.
Ye Ling Er
Ling Er is Wan Er’s best friend. She is the daughter of the Head of the Imperial Guards. She is a straightforward person with martial art skills.
Lin Ruo Fu
Lin Ruo Fu is the Prime Minister of Qing. He has a long relationship with the Emperor. Lin Ruo Fu is a cautious man with enough tact and wisdom to stay unaffected for so long with all the treachery and power struggle going on. He has an illegitimate daughter, Wan Er, and 2 sons, Lin Gong and Da Bao. Yuan Hong Dao is his advisor.
Lin Gong & Lin Da Bao
Both men are sons of Prime Minister Lin. While Lin Gong is the second son, he is the one helping his father to shoulder the family’s responsibilities. Da Bao is the eldest but suffers from stunted mental development. He is child-like with his innocence and curiosity.
Fan Jian
Fan Jian is an Earl and Minister of Revenue. He is also Fan Xian’s father. He has another son with his current wife and a daughter. Fan Jian is open to hearing Fan Xian’s views but doesn’t always share things with his son especially those that concern Fan Xian’s late mother.
Liu Ru Yu
Liu Ru Yu is Fan Jian’s current wife and Fan Xian’s stepmother. She is wary of Fan Xian and is a small-minded woman. She has a son, Si Zhe.
Fan Ruo Ruo
Ruo Ruo is Fan Xian’s younger stepsister. They have a close bond and trust each other completely. Ruo Ruo is smart and likes helping her brother.
Fan Si Zhe
Si Zhe is Fan Xian’s younger stepbrother. He is an idler who dislikes studying and being responsible. But Si Zhe has a talent with numbers with a business mind.
Chen Ping Ping
Chen Ping Ping is a wheelchair-bound man who heads the Investigator’s Office which comes under the direct purview of the Emperor. He is a powerful man who does things on the quiet and has a deep mind. He is protected by the Black Knights and Lord Shadow who is the Director of the 7th Division of the Investigator’s Office.
Teng Zi Jing
Teng Zi Jing is a member of the 4th Division of the Investigator’s Office who is sent to kill Fan Xian.
Wang Qi Nian
Wang Qi Nian is a clerk at the Investigator’s Office. He is a money-minded man who is into earning side income. He is easy-going and comedic but cunning. Wang Qi Nian has light footwork with a tracking ability.
Fei Jie
Fei Jie is the Director of the 3rd Division of the Investigator’s Office. He is also Fan Xian’s teacher. Fei Jie is a poison specialist with some medical knowledge.
Zhu Ge
Zhu Ge is the Director of the 1st Division of the Investigator’s Office. He is a no-nonsense man who strictly adheres to orders.
Yan Ruo Hai
Yan Ruo Hai is the Director of the 4th Division of the Investigator’s Office. He has a son, Yan Bing Yun, who has been sent to Beiqi.
Wu Zhu
Wu Zhu was Fan Xian’s mother’s subordinate. He has great martial arts skills and has been protecting Fan Xian. He is blind and suffers from memory loss.
Si Li Li
Si Li Li is a Beiqi spy masquerading as a courtesan in Qing.
Shen Zhong
Shen Zhong is the Head of Beiqi’s Jinyiwei Guards. He is a smart and shrewd man who knows how to plan and strategize. Shen Zhong has a younger sister whom he cares a great deal.
Synopsis
Fan Xian was raised in a small town by his grandmother after his mother was killed when he was just a baby. However, he has always been curious about his background and his mother as he has memories of a modern world. He doesn’t have any particular aim in life until an assassination attempt compels him to move back in with his father in the capital. His father is an assistant minister while his late mother was a very successful inventor and entrepreneur whose empire was subsequently taken over by the royal family to be its Treasury. She also laid the foundation in the establishment of the powerful Investigator’s Office.
When Fan Xian arrives at the capital, he falls in love with Wan Er at first sight. Wan Er is Prime Minister Lin’s illegitimate daughter with the Royal Princess who currently controls the Royal Treasury. Coincidentally, Fan Xian and Wan Er have been decreed to marry by the Emperor. Once they are married, the control of the Royal Treasury would pass to Fan Xian and this makes him a target. Complicating this matter is the power struggle that is happening between the princes for the throne, the Emperor’s manipulation behind the scenes, and the presence of Beiqi spies in the capital.
Fan Xian does not covet any position and only has interest to live a nice life with the woman he loves. However, when his personal guard and friend is killed while protecting him during an ambush, Fan Xian becomes determined to find out who wants him dead.
Joy Of Life S1 Ending & Recap (Spoilers Alert!)
Joy Of Life S1 has an inconclusive ending that clearly spells out that there is continuation to the story. Fan Xian gets the information from Shen Zhong that the Ming family is helping 2nd Prince and the Royal Princess to profit from smuggling activities in Beiqi in Episode 46. The money made will be enough to support an army. This is in exchange for Fan Xian to bring his sister to Qing and keep her safe. Shen Zhong reveals the information after his plot to kill Fan Xian fails and he gets arrested for it. Shen Zhong is then killed by Shang Shan Hu to avenge Xiao En’s death.
2nd Prince knows that Fan Xian would unearth his smuggling activities while in Beiqi. He uses the lives of a few people close to Fan Xian to threaten him into an alliance. If Fan Xian refuses to let him go, he will be forced to rebel. Fan Xian refuses to comply. Yan Bing Yun, who strongly believes it is his duty to stop turmoils in Qing, stabs Fan Xian when they are surrounded by 2nd Prince’s soldiers. The story switches back to the present day with Fan Xian lying in a pool of blood.
The drama ends with the author saying that Fan Xian is not dead yet and the story will continue.
When Did The Leads Get Together?
Fan Xian finds out that Wan Er is the girl he is looking for in Episode 11. He wanted to cancel his engagement to be with her without knowing that she is actually his betrothed. Hence, he had gone to her residence to create a ruckus for that purpose only to learn that his fiancee is actually Wan Er. They become a couple with mutual feelings for each other.
Is There A Love Triangle?
Si Li Li also has feelings for Fan Xian. She is sent back to Beiqi together with Xiao En on the request of the Beiqi Emperor. She shields Fan Xian from Xiao Yi’s arrow during the journey to Beiqi in Episode 35. Si Li Li also confesses her feelings to Fan Xian in Episode 44 on the eve of his departure back to Qing. He rejects her and she knows there is no possibility between them. But she just wants to express her feelings as they most probably would not meet again since she will be entering the palace.
Fan Xian’s Origin
Fan Xian’s background is revealed in Episode 28 after he managed to get the key to open up the box left by his late mother, Ye Qing Mei. Inside the box is a great weapon as well as letters to him and Wu Zhu. Through his mother’s letter, he learns that she was revived from a frozen state after an ice age ended. She wasn’t the only survivor and when their time ended, a forbidden door was opened which got them to where they were.
Fan Xian wasn’t revived but is a product of an experiment that involved data of memories. He was a guinea pig and the only successful case from the experiment. The secret lies under the pond in her villa. She discouraged Fan Xian to investigate further but left it to him to decide. Fan Xian learns from Xiao En that his father is actually the Emperor in Episode 41.
Ye Qing Mei’s Origin
In Episode 41, Xiao En tells Fan Xian about the secret of the Divine Temple and Ye Qing Mei. This is after Fan Xian saved him from a killer sent by Shen Zhong. Xiao En also mistakenly thought Fan Xian is his grandson due to Chen Ping Ping’s manipulation. In actual fact, his grandson is Yan Bing Yun and Fan Xian figures this out in Episode 42.
According to Xiao En, Beiqi’s previous Emperor was keen on immortality and sent him and Gu He to look for the Divine Temple in the north. After harsh travel conditions through ice and snow, they reached the Divine Temple entrance. However, they couldn’t touch the door no matter how many times they tried. In the end, Ye Qing Mei emerged from the other side and followed them back to Beiqi. She told them that someone was pursuing her and this person’s existence and the Divine Temple must be kept a secret as he is a danger to the world if let out. They parted ways when they reached the Beiqi border and Xiao En never saw her again.
But Xian En knew Ye Qing Mei was a genius who brought many inventions and new ideas to their world. He also heard that she subsequently married the current Emperor of Qing and bore him a son. However, he no longer had any news about her after he was captured and imprisoned by Chen Ping Ping. Xiao En dies in Episode 42 from injuries suffered during the fight with his killer.
What Happened To The Royal Princess?
The Royal Princess is against the marriage between Fan Xian and Wan Er who is her daughter. She tells Fan Xian in Episode 24 that she was the one who arranged for his assassination that killed Teng Zi Jing earlier in Episode 13. Fan Xian is tempted to kill her to avenge his friend’s death but knows the provocation is a trap that will get him shot to death. So, he lets her off and walks away instead.
In Episode 27, Fan Xian bumps into the Royal Princess’ secret meeting with a Beiqi literary giant, Zhuang Mo Han. He learns that she has betrayed Qing by leaking information about Yan Ruo Hai’s son, Yan Bing Yun, to Beiqi. Yan Bing Yun was sent to Beiqi to oversee Nanqing’s spy network there. Fan Xian spreads news of her betrayal but there is insufficient proof of her guilt in Episode 30 to warrant a heavy punishment. The Emperor simply orders her to return to her fief in Xinyang which she complies in Episode 31.
Before her departure from the capital, the Royal Princess tells Wan Er the reason why she wants to kill Fan Xian. This is because she feels that Fan Xian is being used as a bait in the power struggle between the princes and he will be doomed eventually. This will seal Wan Er’s fate as well if they are married. Hence, the Royal Princess prefers to have Fan Xian killed rather than allow the marriage to happen.
The Royal Princess’ Followers
People working for the Royal Princess include Lin Gong, Xiao Yi, Guo You Zhi and Zhu Ge. Lin Gong helped the Royal Princess to arrange for the attempted assassination of Fan Xian which resulted in Teng Zi Jing’s death in Episode 13. Wu Zhu subsequently kills Lin Gong on Fan Xian’s behalf in Episode 18 to avenge Teng Zi Jing’s death.
Xiao Yi is loyal to the Royal Princess because she saved him after his parents died when he was a kid. This is revealed in Episode 28 when he pledges his loyalty to her despite her collusion with Beiqi. Guo You Zhi is the Minister of Rites who has a hand in the Royal Princess collusion with a Beiqi literary giant to try to humiliate Fan Xian. He is arrested in Episode 29.
Zhu Ge is the Royal Princess’ spy in the Investigator’s Office. He supports her because he feels the organization is getting too powerful that it could easily overthrow a sitting Emperor. Hence, the princess ought to have control of the Investigator’s Office to balance out the power which would then ensure stability for Qing. Zhu Ge is unmasked through a set-up arranged by Chen Ping Ping with the help of Yan Ruo Hai in Episode 30. Chen Ping Ping allows Zhu Ge to commit suicide instead of being arrested for his crime.
Chen Ping Ping & The Emperor’s Plan
Fan Xian, Yan Bing Yun, and Xiao En are basically pawns in Chen Ping Ping and the Emperor’s grand plan. Even Teng Zi Jing was picked by the Emperor in the initial stage to get the ball rolling in getting Fan Xian back to the capital while taking advantage of the Royal Princess’ assassination attempt. The whole scheme is to get Xiao En to reveal the secret of the Divine Temple because its power and resources would enable them to rule the world. They are supposedly doing it for the benefit of the Qing kingdom.
However, they know that Xiao En wouldn’t divulge the secret to them. Hence, Chen Ping Ping manipulated things bit by bit over the years to ensure Xiao En mistakenly thinks his grandson is Fan Xian. At the same time, Fan Xian is maneuvered into a position that would allow him to get close to Xiao En despite the danger that they are putting him through. Fan Jian disagrees with Chen Ping Ping and the Emperor’s plan and expresses his discomfort in Episode 42.
Fan Xian realizes everyone is a pawn in Chen Ping Ping and the Emperor’s grand scheme after Xiao En told him what he knew about the Divine Temple and Ye Qing Mei in Episode 41. He is then determined to become the head of the Investigator’s Office so that he can find out what happened to his mother.
Joy Of Life S1 Review – A Very Layered Story
Joy Of Life S1 is a very absorbing story. One thing that is done really well is the plot execution. The story is told in a way that camouflages the real villains and hence, you are always guessing who are the good and bad guys. Each character seems to have their own agenda that you do not really know who is for and against the male lead. I think this is where the drama really sucks you in as things are not told upfront and there is little predictability how things will go.
When the story begins, there are more questions than answers. Things are vague and murky. As things happen along the way, bits will be revealed to slowly form a clearer picture. There are many layers to peel off as you are not told what is going on in the minds of some of these characters. The twists and unpredictability will keep you engrossed. There are a lot of mind games being played by the characters like Nirvana In Fire S1. So, Joy Of Life S1 is not exactly a relaxing watch as this is no rom-com despite some comedic elements being present.
In fact, this is not a romance drama in essence but more of manipulation and duplicity in a power struggle and political environment. It is one long saga that you have to follow from the start without skipping and fast-forwarding. Otherwise, it will be hard to join the dots and link up the whole story.
Little Romance
Initially, I thought that Joy Of Life S1 is basically a romance drama with some palace politics thrown in. While it seems to start off as one, the romance tapers off pretty fast to be replaced by political maneuverings and schemings. The female lead doesn’t have that much screen time in total and she fades away in the second half which just points to the fact that romance isn’t the focus of the drama. It is merely a lead-in to the meat of the story. Thus, don’t raise your expectations too high on a sweet romance.
Furthermore, the drama has similar vibes with Heaven Sword And Dragon Sabre whereby the male lead has light entanglements with different women. He doesn’t get into a full-blown romance with all of them but the subtleties and hints that there could be something more with these women are there. Therefore, Joy Of Life S1 is not your typical historical romance drama despite a love at first sight opening. It is more of a palace drama with lots of schemings.
The Wait For S2
The wait for the next season is one big drawback of this Joy Of Life series. The ending of S1 leaves you craving for more to the story. It leaves you with a cliffhanger of what would happen to the male lead. While Lost You Forever S1 also makes you pine for the next season, it doesn’t have such a dramatic ending like Joy Of Life S1. It is cut off at the right point where there is room for a breather before the next stage of the story is presented.
On the other hand, Joy Of Life S1 ends in a way that isn’t very satisfying for the viewers. I think if I have watched this back in 2019, I wouldn’t be too happy. The 5-year gap before S2 comes on air is definitely frustrating. To make matters worse, many details of the story would have been forgotten after such a long time that I’m not too sure if you can watch the next season without going back for a refresher if you have completed S1 5 years ago. After all, this is a very detailed oriented story that follows logic with each character having their own secret agenda.
Acting
If you are watching this because of Xiao Zhan, you are going to be disappointed. He doesn’t appear until the last arc. The lead is Zhang Ruo Yun who is also in a similar mind games historical drama in Sword Snow Stride. I think he is just made out for such dramas! To me, the actor is perfect as Fan Xian in Joy Of Life S1. He has amusing expressions that give the character a unique personality which truly defines who Fan Xian is.
Zhang Ruo Yun also has pretty good chemistry with Li Qin although their scenes together are quite limited. Li Qin’s screen presence will gradually lessen to be replaced by the men which include Chen Dao Ming as the Emperor and Wu Gang as Chen Ping Ping. These men are veterans and hence, their acting is great to watch. They also complement Zhang Ruo Yun very well. You can sense the characters’ sinister mind at work when you watch them play their roles.
My Verdict – A Must Watch
I think not many people will dispute the fact that the Joy Of Life S1 is one of the best Chinese dramas around. Yes, you will have the cliche of an author writing the story in the beginning and at the end of the drama. This is to get pass the Chinese censorship on time travel although this topic is not explored in detail in the first season. There is more to the mystery that viewers will need answers to in subsequent productions.
I think one of the successful aspects of this drama is the good balance between comedy and seriousness apart from the engrossing plot. It has funny dialogues and many lighthearted moments which is consistent with the witty nature of the male protagonist. Otherwise, the drama might just end up being too dry given the nature of the story that is full of schemings and manipulations against the backdrop of palace politics.
So, for this drama review of Joy Of Life S1, I would give it a rating of 8.5/10. It is definitely a must watch in my books. I have just deducted some marks for the ending because I feel a gentler cut-off point would be better since there is a long wait for S2. Now, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that S2’s ending would not be as dramatic and we don’t have to wait another 5 years for S3 to make it to our screens.
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