Hello, my name is IjeaGrace and I’ve become a major C-drama addict!
This is my very first review here on this site. I keep a notebook with my insights, inspirations and takeaways from many of the CDrama’s that I've seen so far. So please have patience as I get the hang of it.

Ode to Joy 1 and 2:
I loved this huge peak at life from China’s contemporary POV in real time. I’m an American having recently discovered Chinese Dramas. I absolutely LOVE them!!!

My love for the language and history continues to grow. So much so, I even have a very small lexicon of words in Mandarin that I can now recognize. By no means am I even remotely ready to watch without my English Subtitles and I only speak them out loud to my dogs. But without doubt, my favorites are, wo ai ni; wo xi huan ni, wo ming bai /wo ming bai le and wo fu ze. Not just how beautiful they sound but how significant they are when spoken. Any who, on to the review.

Ode to Joy is just that and was such a roller coaster ride. I found myself screaming at the screen, releasing a lot of “western cultural mindset”, having a few drinks during particular episodes (those that know, know which ones) and having to adjust to many of the cultural perspectives quite a bit. Wo ming bai le/”I got it,” but it’s just so different in terms of the freedom from families of origin/“siblings” in particular; expectations and the like expressed here in my culture. I found myself thoroughly grounded in “An Di’s” camp having been raised in the US with regard to folks “meddling.” In my culture here’s an idiom we say, “You are all in the Kool-Aid (An American instant soft drink) and don’t know the flavor.” Very frustrating, but I got it.

The constant that continues to draw me in to these dramas and keeps me posted is the high level of outstanding acting that every last one of these actors brings. Every one brings their “A-Game”, even when it’s obvious the material is limited and or the character is written in such a way. Which to me is fabulous! I love how each one just plays that role so convincingly no matter what. Ode to Joy was no exception, and did not disappoint on this point.

I loved the evolution of their “sisterhood!” Particularly the emphasis on asking for help. “Pride goeth before the fall.” Why suffer all alone? Truly, that’s what friends are for.

Character take away’s:
"An Di"/ Liu Tao. I first saw this actress in Nirvana in Fire and was happy to recognize her. Her character in this role is still a bit to staid, but I knew "Bao Yi Fan"/Yang Shuo was the man for her the moment he showed up all uninvited on her little vacation in S1. I Love him for her, love them as a couple and I love him on his own. I will be on the lookout for them acting in other stories, but I can’t wait to see their story Arc even more so that keeps melting away the ice wall/false pride she puts up.

"Fan Sheng Mei"/ Rulu Jiang, WOW!!! I can’t tell how many times I wanted to call her cell and say “G-U-R-L Please!” Her situation with regard to her family of origin (is what we call the folks that birthed us) was the most difficult for me to understand or embrace. Second, how she discounted her strengths just drove me right up the wall. I’m so glad she let ole boy, "Wang Bai Chuan" Zhang Lu off that crazy and “toxic” hook! OMG! My heart was steeping like a tea bag in gasoline for him. That “Mama” of hers though! OMG!!! REALLY?! I am all with “Xiao Xiao” in being about that “gangsta” life when it comes to her brother and that sister-in-law though! They were pushing all of my inner gangster buttons. But I see where I hope we are going in terms of her character arc in S3. Fabulous actress and fabulous acting!

"Qu Xiao Xiao"/ “Olivia” Wang. SMH. This character had to grow on me. I do not like a “butt-in-ski”, and especially one with bad intentions to just be mean. I do love her drive and now I understand her motives. My heart completely goes out to her with regard to her over-the-top behavior sometimes. Love her and “Flirty Dr. Zhao” Qi Ping/ Wang Kai. I love, love, love how they don’t pretend in their physical attraction with each other, that they have one, and how he showed up for her in the end especially with her parents was outstanding. My western sense of self and independence wants her Mom to be free from being in a loveless marriage that no longer serves either of them because the kids have grown up. Awesome story arc for these two. Hope the evolution of their love story continues in S3. I paraphrase here but, “If y’all (urban slang) don’t want her, I’ll take her and create a peaceful, simple but loving life with her.” BOOM!!! He put that work in. My type of guy, Right?!

"Qiu Ying Ying"/ Yang Zi. OMG!!! I am so glad I saw Yang Zi in Ashes of Love [AOL] first! This character, OMG! This lady truly knows how to play these roles. Even in AOL, her character drove be nutz in the beginning (well most of the way still up until “the Mortal Realm”). I sincerely hope she gets to bring more of her acting magic to this role out like she did in AOL. I’m on the bench with the character, but completely sold on Yang Zi’s talent. What and asshole, “Manager Bai” was indeed. I loved Wu Hao Chen/ “Ying Qin” in Nirvana in Fire 2. I watch actors for their growth and talent in bringing their character’s to life through their ability to tell the story. He does this very well. I just feel his character in this story is moving too fast and there might be some more drama for these two in S3. “Boy, get your Mama on a very short leash!” What a bitch! I would hate to see Ying Ying lose sight of her wins in becoming his wife. I hope “he treats her well.”

I have saved the best for last!

"Guan Ju Er"/ Qiao Xin. What can I say about this young lady? So refined in this role. Her character arc is awesome and frustrates me at the same time. I applaud her strength and grace all through out because for me, integrity is the key to every success. How-some-ever, in terms of "Xie Tong"/ Deng Lun, please know right now that I only started watching this program because I knew he was in it. OMG!! Again, I’m truly glad that I’ve seen everything available with English subtitles the man has been in. He is the young actor (I like to watch) ascending and I am loving watching his star rise. I know this is an early role in his career, he is just beautiful to watch act in anything, and now I’ve seen him singing in character. It’s great. I love how she stood up for him in front of her Mother (what a “condescending” cow she turned into, huh?!) and what she said to him after they ran away. I was there screaming, ‘YES, YES!” Say all of that! “Imma a grown woman, and I do what I want to do” (a Beyoncé favorite of mine) came to my mind.

I sincerely am interested to see what becomes of these two in S3. I love how she came into her independence, but still with a respect for her parents. I love how her father supported her ability to think clearly through a challenging situation with her Mom. IDK though, the chance to see the world/ a new world with the man I’m loving at the moment held more of an appeal to me than staying in a job, town, and playing it safe. I am much older and wiser now, I realize so many opportunities come and go when we are young and before we know it.

Barring the financial support from An Di, I did not appreciate the judgment and apparent lack of sincere mutual support from her “sisters” at 2200 with regard to “Xie Tong” after the jail situation! I did love her rebuttal. Ole “Ying Qin” treated “Ying Ying” like a dog, but he’s good to go now…hmmm. How much drama did we go through with 'Ying Ying" behind all of that?! "Xie Tong" can’t get a pass his first time out of pocket with the sisterhood? Oh, and let me hit you with a hot fact…btw “Xiao Xiao,” really?! I did not love him being a drunk who likes to fight either (shades of Ike Turner). I loved that she spoke with him directly about the ex-girlfriend and the manner to which she did. Loved the acting in that scene. “I’ll wait for you.” I’ve learned a great deal of importance about how significant communication in relationships {of any kind} being the key to a lasting friendship, but most specifically in love, even if the romance fades watching these programs and this one in particular, has taught me again.

Overall: I loved it and I look forward to Season 3!

Re-Watching Ode to Joy 1 or 2:
There a many episodes that I treasure, will watch again, and truly enjoy, but I don’t think I’d binge watch this again.

Thanks for reading.