Everything I expected and more
Joy of Life season 2 didn’t disappoint. After waiting 4/5 years for season 2, it retained all the elements that I loved from the first season and more. All the actors did really well especially Zhang Ruoyun.For me, this is the best Chinese drama that I’ve seen and I’ve watched a lot of good and not so good.
I can’t wait for season 3. Hopefully we don’t have to wait another 4/5yrs and fingers crossed the writer and show runners keep all the elements that has made season 1 and season 2 great. It’s also my hope that all the main actors (of course Zhang Ruoyun) come back for season 3 especially, Song Yi as Ruoruo, Sizhe and the Fan family, Uncle Wuzhu, Emperor, Wang Qinian, Chen Pingping, second prince, crown prince, Lin Waner, okay I’ll stop…..I hope all the cast come back for Season 3. Please don’t let us wait too long but while I’m waiting patiently, I will enjoy the Joy of Life!
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let me make a short revive
Fan Xian, Emperor, and Chen Pingping: A Dynamic TriadIn the world of "Joy of Life," the interactions between Fan Xian, the Emperor, and Chen Pingping are some of the most captivating and complex elements of the narrative. These encounters are not just political or strategic meetings but are filled with emotional depth, hidden motives, and layers of intrigue. as for the emperor he really make this show so likeable his plots on different level { I should say he is a person on different level}.
Celebrating the Remaining Life
real name of the show.
and
If people want to know which season of "Joy of Life" is better, it's definitely Season 1. Season 2 is slower compared to Season 1 and lacks some major plot points. Moreover, many beloved characters from Season 1, such as Se Lili, Wuzhu, Haitang Duoduo, and Eunuch Hong, receive much less screen time or do not appear at all, like Hong and Se Lili.
As for my personal opinion, I like this show very much. All I'm saying is that Season 2, in my opinion, did not meet the expectations set by the five-year wait when compared to Season 1.
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Not as good as S1 but still worth watching!
Epic continues 4.5 years later.... Everyone's been waiting and I am so happy most of the main and supportive cast returned. Must be a tremendous effort to coordinate all the schedules. However, having rewatched S1 to prepare for S2, the absence of Xiao Zhan was felt immediately. I get it, he's a big star now but sometimes a small part in an epic drama beats ML in a mediocre drama. Actor Wu Xing Jian did not deliver the intense stare Xiao Zhan had for Yan Bing Yun's character. Not that I expected him to, but I was hoping for more? The entire character felt flat.Story started a bit slow with some OTP crying but by ep 4, the humor really kicked in when the faceoff between the Crown Prince, 2nd prince & Fan Xian happened. You know how great the acting is when they can deliver that micro expression.
Sure, there are lots of things I am not liking:
-Dubbing for Liu Ru Yu (Madam Fan) is different and not in a good way.
-The yodeler music for silly funny scenes is a bit overdone.
-Yan Bing Yun's character changing from sexy mysterious feel to blahhhhh
-YeLingER's character went from spunky hot head to serious bitter? No issues replacing the actress but common don't replace the personality.....
-Over heavy on political scheming. Ep 15 was hard to watch as it was way over done on the interrogation scene
-Zhang Ruo Yun (ML)'s weight loss? Questionable healthy
-Lack of Fan Si Zhe, Uncle Wu. These are awesome characters from S1 that worked, and they should've continued with more scenes not less
But there are also improvements:
-Lighting (S1 was olive... browns... yeah not flattering)
S2 lighting is better but still not great. No over skin smoothing, no heavy makeup, you can see people's skin textures
-Continued character development like the crown prince, 2nd prince
- Introduction of new interesting characters like the 1st prince & princess pairing (very cute), the little Eunuch that seems to know what to say at all times
A must watch for anyone who loves beyond idol dramas.
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This drama has it all! Definitely a masterpiece.
I'm very happy about this drama, the long wait since season 1 was worth it.It's a very complete drama, you will feel trilled with the plots, emotional and wanting to cry in the heavy parts, laugh with the funny moments and warm your heart with the relationships and some romance sweet moments. I mean, I was really going through a lot of emotions during the drama, all that in a good pace, it's quite exceptional.
What is a surprise for me is that I usually like more the romance part, but not in this drama, everything else is so interesting that I don't really care that the romance is not the main thing.
And the comedy parts are just in the right amount and tone. It's very hard for me to find something funny, but I liked how the funny moments were made. I laughed out loud a few times.
Everything else is just so good. I loved it all.
The actors, so amazing!!
The plots
The costumes
The fight scenes
The photography
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Fantasy Political Nothing more Nothing less
So, disappointing season we have. Drama genres are Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, and Wuxia. But what it delivers is only fantasy politics that all. Don't expect more from it. We are here to watch more harem, wuxia, and adventures. But they deliver nothing. The acting is superb as always. Male eccentric drama . It always revolves around ML which is very good but this time they only serve some boring politics around him. The first season million times better than this season because of the wuxia, adventure and romance there. Before watching I want to give you a boring alert. Thanks.Was this review helpful to you?
A Symphony of Morality and Power: Joy of Life Season 2
Joy of Life Season 2 is such a masterpiece and a great continuation of the first season. The storyline is very captivating while brining back old favourites and continuing to following Fan Xian on his journey. In this season, Fan Xian has shifted into a more morally grey character which I really enjoyed as he follows or more so discovers his mother's footsteps, balances his moral beliefs and navigates the political mess between the princes. Wan'Er and Chen Ping Ping had less prominent roles in this season while allows us to really focus on Fan Xian and his evident shift in attitude, thinking and the way he reacts to the situations that are quite literally thrown at him. He literally could not catch a break not even on his wedding night. I also really liked how they reused the original soundtracks from S1 and it really feels nostalgic. However, the opening and closing songs did not disappoint at all, already added to my playlist! I really liked them and feel like they definitely have that JOL feeling to them. My only problem was the recasting of Ye Ling'Er, which I feel does not represent her role properly. From S1 to S2, the dynamic of Ling'Er has completely changed and it doesn't even feel like the same character. Overall, JOL has a very special place in my heart when it comes to CDramas, and this might (is) a biased rating but 10/10.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Another masterpiece
Done! After waiting for almost 5 years, S2-36 episodes gone just like that ? but the whole season didn't dissapoint. Do I like S1 better, maybe. I feel S1 is more cohesive, every episode was crafted nicely to tell the whole story. S2, it's a bit more choppy like getting all the puzzle pieces thrown together at the same time and have no clue what to expect ? could be because of the episode limitation?But! I have to say Zhang Ruo Yun saved it all. His acting skill is more refined, his facial expressions are really impressive (and charming ?). Bonus - love his hair style, don't think I've seen wavy male hair style in any costume dramas ??
I also love some new roles in S2. The Empress is definitely interesting and with the way she hides a bottle of wine in her sleeve - I wonder what else people actually put in there...?
Anyway. I heard some people who loved S1 complaining about S2 ?♀️ Yes, more dialogues in S2 but this drama was never intended to be wuxia drama so I didn't care that part. In fact this is a very few dramas where I have to pay attention to all the dialogues otherwise I would get lost. I even had to slow down a few times too.
For me, I love both seasons equally.
I knew from the very beginning this drama has 3 seasons (the book has 800 chapters or so) and S2 ended with another open ending, but at least nobody got stabbed this time.
I just hope we don't have to wait another five years!
What's next...rewatch with a better sub!
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Done! After waiting for almost 5 years, S2-36 episodes gone just like that ? but the whole season didn't dissapoint. Do I like S1 better, maybe. I feel S1 is more cohesive, every episode was crafted nicely to tell the whole story. S2, it's a bit more choppy like getting all the puzzle pieces thrown together at the same time and have no clue whatto expect ? could be because of the episode limitation?
But! I have to say Zhang Ruo Yun saved it all. His acting skill is more refined, his facial expressions are really impressive (and charming ?). Bonus - love his hair style, don't think I've seen wavy male hair style in any costume dramas ??
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Great watch but Pt2 may not be for everyone
Great watch but Pt2 may not be for everyone -- geek scifi and early modern history fans will perk up and smile. Qi-problems sideline our bold brassy boy from any martial action for much of Pt2; Fan Xian gets one truly spectacular, mistaken and vertiginous duel. The grandmaster system starts to become a subject for thought.Much thinner, FX steadfastly makes his way forward now as a true insider in the capital city, once Dad-the-Emperor sort of acknowledges him. Exeunt the std hero plots, enter a sci-fi steam punk search for Mom's identity, while DtE uses FX to claw back control of Mom's seed projects: the Overwatch Council (and associ.ated govt agencies) and the Imperial Treasury. FX fights public corruption and sweet chubby-cheeks Fan Sizhe invents economic theory (I knew he could do it. Fangirl here).
The Dad-cabal still manages to fascinate -- adoptive-Dad, Dad-in-law, super-mentor-"dad", and somebody-else's-Dad (Yan Bing Yun has a future ahead) all joust with Bio-DtE over how their retirements will play out. Poor dears, always upended by some long involved strategy of DtE which is only recognizable via its final result.
FX begins to self-define as a grownup -- feelings are more important to him than they are or were to either parent, justice is his Mom's gift to him and he has clearly inherited his Dad's skillful, calculating and often violent strategic action. But will he ever get to settle down with his Wan-er? I hope so. However as an historian I can smell reform of the armed forces coming on ....
Most of Pt1 actors/charcters return and develop further. The irrepressible Elder Princess and the Second Prince (I feel a sneaking fondness for his little cat face and his pretty bare feet ) return but do not change. Most of the horrific violence occurs offstage to the suffering People, in the imperial family violence is a constant threat only rarely carried out.
Random thought: the constant shots of main characters' footwear seem not to have any poetic logic, and surely they arent ppl...
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It's like welcoming an old friend
Around 4 years later, since the I've watched the first season, I'm glad to be back again. Honestly, I've almost forgotten what happened and since the wait was quite long, I've almost forgot they were releasing another season (so the hype and the anticipation were a bit down from me) lolSo, I would say, when I've started, nostalgia brings me back, seeing again familiar faces, the settings, the vibe it's like returning to a home and welcoming or joining an old friend that I've not seen for years.
The complexity of this serie is, in my opinion, its charm and I'm going to be a bit contradictory but I think this is also why I'm not that hooked but I still watch it till the end and still enjoy it. Honestly, sometimes I couldn't follow or was a bit confused or maybe I was a bit struggling to follow... Maybe if there's a bit of action or maybe jokes (well, I know it could be worse since I'm not bilingual hence I won't really catch the pun) and poetry like in the first season I would like it more. However, at the same time, I also think it's a part of the development of the characters that it's more heavier and sometimes very emotional. But we do have some funny and even iconic moments (thanks god and for sure I'll rewatch some scenes in particular).
I still give it a high rating because it deserves it and it's also because I was also impressed by many elements such as the layered characters (omg I loved the acting, all the actors were great), the production (like I said the settings / the vibe), the costumes (I love traditional clothes,very pretty!!) and the OST (really beautiful and I even got goosebumps by listening to it).
So, yes this drama isn't easy to watch but we have to carefully enjoy it (like as we take a sip of some kind of tea, I don't know why I'm talking about tea lol) and it's an interesting journey to follow.
p-s: I'm sorry if my rant / my review seems a bit weird but I've tried my best to share my thoughts (especially that English isn't my mother tongue but I love using it haha) and I think I must forgot some others things but I'll keep it as it is for now.
And for sure, I'm going to be here for the third season haha, see you there!
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Worth the wait
Season 2 wasn’t as strong as Season 1 but still an amazing story and I’m looking forward to Season 3.The Good
The JOL is definitely a uniquely written story that keeps you on your toes. I found that there wasn’t much of any hiccups from the plot and acting from the long wait of the first season. The cast fell right back into place and delivered strong performances as expected. Even the change of Yan Bingyun’s character flowed nicely and he took the character to greater heights. Many twists and turns in the story and the action/plotting scenes definitely do not disappoint. The OST still remained relatively decent. The costumes and production quality were elevated and a welcome change in this season. I appreciated the pacing in this season as the story continues to unfold.
The Bad
Three things, I didn’t like the change in Ye Linger character as I feel as if they changed up her character arc. She seemed less independent and more tolerant than the first season and the same goes for Fan Xian. There were aspects of his character that changed in season 2 such as the constant bowing and being more tolerant to the royal family that made him more defiant and unique in the first season. I know it has to do with character growth but wished they could have maintained that throughout the show. Still didn’t care too much for the love story between Fan Xian and Lin Waner. It just doesn’t add much to the story but had a heavier focus this season. Still not sure how her character is considered a main character.
Either way. Loved this story!
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Tone & pace maintained from S1, engaging story & well acted
It's nice to see the tone & pace are largely the same as from S1, same superb performances from the veteran actors. Love the patient, close examination of finer details in both scene & conversation. I've read that there are many jokes which don't translate well. Although my Chinese is limited, I can tell that the dialogue is sharp & fast and, even from what is translated, some scenes can still be very funny to a Western trained eye simply because the acting is that good. The CGI is not up to Western standard, but the natural sets were stunning.Once again, Fan Xian schemes & this time makes a choice of who to align with, and characters continue to surprise, making the viewer guess what their next move might be. The crown prince became more cunning & surprisingly likeable. In fact, many characters now show a lighter, more casual side to themselves than in S1. Even Shadow is given not only a personality, but also aspirations, & presents more as a human being. Wu Zhu experiences self-doubt since he's been freed & on his own, & my suspicions of his identity from S1 were confirmed. Many characters returned from S1, although some were given very little screen time in S2.
S2, however, is less broad in scope as the story mainly centers on Fan Xian consolidating his influence within the capital, under his declared goal of weeding out government corruption. The romance takes a back seat to the political intrigue. Lin Wan'Er, who should be the most important person to Fan Xian, isn't even mentioned until Ep5. However, the development of their relationship was gripping as they reach new levels of understanding with each other. Wu Zhu doesn't show up until past the half-way mark at Ep26, but is involved in a drastic new development as he continues to be an important key to the mystery of FanXian'smother. FanXian's mission takes the story through the conventional settings of the imperial examinations, and the highly anticipated wedding with Wan'Er.
The season ends with Fan Xian one step further into taking control of his mother's assets, & without an agonizing cliff hanger as in S1. However, hopefully the wait won't be long for S3. The story remains highly engaging & I'm ready for S3.
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