Well the behemoth that is Joy of Life 2 is here and the reception is as hot as expected. The drama dropped on May 16th and within one day hit 32,906 on the heat index on streaming platform Tencent, the fastest to break 30K in any drama aired on Tencent. Reportedly the drama is good, early reviews from viewers of the first season are positive like a continuation of what made JOL a hit the first time around. I love seeing blockbusters arrive and deliver, makes drama watching fun rather than a parade of mediocre and mid dramas with lots of nitpicking.
Started watching this cause I couldn’t wait (cos I’ve been waiting for 4 yrs already 😭) and I’m so happy that the wait was with it. I’m on ep 7 and I can tell you that the next episode is better than the former. The comedy, the tension, the politics I’m living for all of it. I just hope the story continues to get better and it doesn’t start well and end mid🙏🏽🙏🏽
This is the only Chinese drama that I didn’t fast forward all the way to the end of season 1. That’s how good it was for me. Just started season 2.
Good plot but in Joy of Life, the role of the female lead and most of the ladies is almost unexcitable but they keep showing them in posters just for the views
The ratings scandal that is brewing sure is interesting.
What ratings scandal?
@Mimi
Kuyun is displaying much higher ratings in real time than they actually are. So Tencent and Xinli can brag about their huge ratings success before the official ratings, the CVB is announced.
When it happened, it turned out that the official numbers are significantly lower than what Kuyun was displaying, about 25% lower. That has never happened before even though there were hints of manipulations for a few other dramas but never to this extreme degree.
Of course it’s a clever tactic. Tencent gets to hype these live ones that is done by Kuyun because most people are used to trusting their numbers and by the time the actual, official ones come in, the audience has moved on and isn’t paying attention to episodes that were aired previously. What a clever loop they have created.
Of course, in the end, the official CVB will show the truth but.
PPl talking about the show you talking about manipulation wtf? Not interested in the drama show pls go away, really can stand ppl who cant appreciate a good drama must purposely come and degrade it. Jeezz
AGREE!
I enjoy the show a lot, who cares about number manipulation? Unless it’s FOMO watching, or only for the purpose of bragging.
Lmao
This is not a fan board where it is required to gush about this. It’s a blog with all sorts of posts. Don’t like, just pass by.
True, this is not a fan board. People can gush about the drama or criticize the story, the production, the acting or the actors, whatever — anything about the drama itself. But rating “scandal”? What does it have to do with the watching experience?
JOL is my favorite Chinese Drama of all time! S2 is definitely starting out really good with great plot, good mix of comedy, and fantastic acting!
I’m enjoying Joy of Life 2 so far. Always nervous with sequels of course because they often don’t live up to the hype. But so far, it has been an enjoyable watch. Lots of twists and turns, so you really need to pay attention.
This is a large ensemble cast with many great actors. Some are well known and have played main characters in many dramas. The roles of female characters are just as quirky and significant as the male characters. Take Wang Qi Nian (played by the ever great Tian Yu), he’s the ML’s side kick. His clever, no nonsense wife rules in that family while the cute (OMG, where do they find all these wonderful young actors?) 5yo daughter is no slouch in her might either. Conniving dad pretty much lives for them. Or Wang Chu Ran who plays a subtle but key figure here as a courtesan.
What I love is while the story revolves around the male main character, Fan Xian, he’s nothing if it wasn’t for the large ensemble cast. This drama is plot within plot driven (as well as characters driven), and you need all these richly portrayed characters to drive the continuity and interject drama, humor, and interest. Even the vegetable seller (father of one of the courtesans) in ep. 3 was a dramatic linchpin driving the motivation and actions which came later.
There are so many layered stories here which allow talented actors to flesh their big and small characters. It’s atypical of the usual C dramas in that way. This isn’t the usual revenge, romance, or angsty family drama. There’s a lot here to enjoy.
I binged watched season one right before season 2 came out, I was so excited I watched without the translation, I was so excited lol.. thank you all for bringing this amazing drama back
I am loving it so far! But what I don’t love is the color/lighting. Dare I say, I might even prefer the old dimmer/darker lighting? The brightness now kind of washes out color and makes everything look old.
I also don’t like the new hairstyle and ZRY’s skinniness. But they’re just a minor nitpick.
Zhang Ruo Yun lost just too much weight for this drama… I guess with the increased interest in skinny look…many artiste Male and Female have to starve… I like his healthy look….
@HL I thought they were trying to show healthier men and women onscreen now? Didn’t the gov’t ban sissies? So wouldn’t buffer be better? Altho technically I guess with FX getting qi deviation, it could kinda address his skinniness…
I’m also not sure I like the new YBY. Whereas the old YBY showed too little emotions, the new YBY showed too much emotions. It’s an odd thing to adjust to.
I prefer Xiao Zhan’s portraying of the character even through his acting was still raw then… the new replacement Wu Xing Jian’s interpretation of the character does not sit as comfortably with me too.
I think the Gov just PS off ear rings and tattoos, guys cannot wear androgynous outfits… But the skinny looks is still active…