THE WORLD OF SCHEMERS: journey of wits and humour

Joy of Life is the compelling journey of Fan Xian, the only shinning light for the common people, as they say haha. He witnesses the injustice of the world and tries to bring justice while he himself is the biggest nepotism fruit ever.

I'm so glad that season 2 kicks off as equally witty and funny as season 1 with S 2 leaning more on the darker side.

The fact that whole season 1 revolved around Fan Xian and season 2 was still all about him and him, but I'm not disappointed. Cuz characters like him are rare – Smart, funny, upright and stubborn, so stubborn that I've lost count of how many times he was about to die but guy is so good with his words and ofc his dads got his back. Ngl, he is a little crazy and thats exactly why we like him.

Fan Xian meets many companions on his way, some stay, some die, has like 4-5 dads, an amnesiac blind protector, even the love of his life- his drumstick lady but gosh boy is just lonely. I know some part of my likeness for him is pity. HE JUST WANTS TO LIVE PEACEFULLY BUT CAN HE? probably one day when all the scheming ends.

If you love palace politics, intricately written plot of schemes, backstabbing thrown one after the other, long discussions and dialogue deliveries of which one word got him killed, JOL is the right one for you.... the best quality of JOL that impresses me is how they switch from a dark, very tragic scene to a sheer comedic scene you can't help but laugh at. I was about to cry cuz smthg sad happened, my tears are still in the making but now I'm laughing on a meme. they legit used some snapchat filter on everyone's face in one scene and I'm still cracking up about it in my dreams.

For the acting, it felt like everyone must have matured little or less in the gap of these two seasons, they all served us with amazing acting. Specially impressed with Li Xiaoran and Liu Duanduan who acted Princess Royal Li Yunrui and Second Prince Chengze respectively. And its less no matter how much I praise Zhang Ruoyun for being the perfect Fan Xian. Was he born for playing this role or what? xD.... I look at him and think "I get it Wan Er. I get it gurl"


Overall, with fine storytelling and wholesome family and peer interactions, moments of subtle bromances, Joy of life was like a fine game of chess where everyone is a pawn. you make a move but are you sure you made it alone? its complicated yk.

Totally recommended!

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