"Joy of Life" stands as a representative work in the adaptation of online novel works, and with its performance over two seasons, it is poised to become the most successful TV series adapted from an online novel, provided the third season maintains its quality. The second season builds on and diverges from the first, with the latter emphasizing entertainment and playfulness, while the former embeds a stronger sense of serious drama and critical commentary. This season continues with episodic storytelling, resembling a transformed road movie with its myriad plot threads and diverse characters. To simplify the discussion, let's focus on the characters and their roles in the series.
Scrutinizing Imperial Power
One memorable character is Lai Mingcheng (played by Bi Yanjun), the Censorate official whose brief appearance leaves a lasting impact. As a Censorate official, he has the authority to report on any official misconduct and to supervise all officials. Throughout history, Censorate officials have been known for their fearless criticisms of powerful ministers and even the emperor. They enjoy greater freedom of speech and immunity than other officials, and wise emperors are wary of being accused of silencing critics. Some Censorate officials treat their position as a regular job, carefully navigating their duties, while bolder ones view their role as a high-stakes gamble, weighing the odds of success and failure. Lai Mingcheng, however, submits his reports with a determination to face death, issuing four powerful memorials.
First, he criticizes Fan Jian (played by Gao Shuguang) for failing to properly educate his son, implicating him in a murder case at the Bao Yue Tower. Next, he accuses the Second Prince (played by Liu Duanduan) of profiteering from smuggling and bribery. His third memorial condemns the Overwatch Council for overstepping its bounds, violating national laws. Lastly, he directly challenges Emperor Qing (played by Chen Daoming), claiming that the true foundation of the Qing Kingdom is the people's conscience, not the Overwatch Council. He boldly states, "Your Majesty can also be wrong; ignorance of one's faults is foolishness, and knowing but not correcting them is cowardice." Lai Mingcheng embodies the highest standards of a loyal minister, yet his actions also represent a direct challenge to imperial authority.
Challenging the Second Prince already places him among the ranks of fearless officials like Yang Jisheng, who criticized the powerful minister Yan Song during the Jiajing Emperor's reign. To criticize Emperor Qing directly elevates him to the level of Hai Rui, known for his fearless critique of the emperor. Yang Jisheng was tortured and killed, while Hai Rui was reappointed after the Jiajing Emperor's death. Both faced the same emperor, yet their fates diverged. Similarly, Emperor Qing, like the historical Jiajing Emperor, is a master of political manipulation, showing no mercy or remorse, ultimately beating Lai Mingcheng to death.
Emperor Qing's ruthlessness is not unprecedented. In the first season, Mei Zhili (played by Li Jianyi), a loyal official who served Emperor Qing for a lifetime, decided to ally with the Crown Prince (played by Zhang Haowei) for his future security, only to be forced into retirement by Emperor Qing. He was subsequently assassinated, his death staged as a bandit attack. Emperor Qing shows no loyalty to old allies like Mei Zhili and no respect for brave officials like Lai Mingcheng. To him, all officials are mere pawns, judged by their usefulness. The Grand Princess (played by Li Xiaoran) and the Second Prince are tools for dirty work, pardoned for crimes of smuggling and murder. Lin Ruofu (played by Yu Yang) is discarded once he loses his utility.
This series vividly portrays the chaos and injustice of autocratic rule, highlighting Emperor Qing's merciless nature. It deeply critiques the evils of feudal power, contrasting them with Fan Xian's ideals of equality and justice. While the show delves into intrigue and strategy, it does so with a critical eye, hoping to see humanity move past these dark chapters toward a more just and harmonious future.
The Tragic Life
One of the most poignant aspects of "Joy of Life" that leaves viewers with a heavy heart is the character of the Second Prince, Li Chengze. In the first season, he remained hidden, only revealing his true nature at the last moment. In the second season, he steps into the spotlight, pitting himself against the alliance of the Crown Prince and Fan Xian. Crafty and cunning, he constantly sets traps for Fan Xian, sacrifices his subordinates, and betrays his brothers without a second thought. Yet, there are moments when he shows vulnerability and helplessness, particularly in his conversations with Ye Ling'er (played by Jin Chen) on the rooftop, where he reveals his core struggle. With Emperor Qing as his father, he cannot refuse the arranged marriages or escape his designated role.
Despite his reluctance to vie for power, Emperor Qing forces his hand. At thirteen, he was made a prince; by fifteen, he was involved in politics, forming alliances and building factions, relentlessly challenging the Crown Prince. His participation in this power struggle is destined for failure. If he loses to the Crown Prince, he faces dire consequences once the Crown Prince ascends the throne. If he wins, Emperor Qing would intervene, resetting the board. Historically, few princes who lost such struggles met a good end. In Emperor Qing's autocratic rule, everyone is both a fighter and a walking corpse, be it the Second Prince, the Crown Prince, the Empress (played by Yu Feihong), or the Grand Princess (played by Li Xiaoran). Even the seemingly detached First Prince (played by Fu Xinbo) and Third Prince (played by Guo Zifan) will eventually face life-and-death decisions. The illegitimate prince, Fan Xian, is also drawn into this deadly game.
The classic definition of a "loyal minister" is someone who serves the state without fear, bias, or self-interest, becoming a pillar of the administration. However, Emperor Qing's version of a loyal minister is one who obeys and sacrifices everything for him, without regard for the people or forming alliances. The Second Prince's plight has a modern literary sense of existential despair. Traditional historical dramas often convey that emperors are the greatest prisoners of history.
"Joy of Life" Season 2, however, posits that every minister is a prisoner under imperial rule. Chen Pingping (played by Wu Gang) meticulously anticipates Emperor Qing's thoughts, solving problems and creating new ones for him to solve. General Qin (played by Feng Enhui) feigns senility, forced to pretend to sleep during court sessions despite his advanced age.
Fan Jian, though not Fan Xian's biological father, loves and protects him wholeheartedly. The most pitiable character is Lin Ruofu, who manages the kingdom's daily affairs for decades only to be discarded abruptly. Despite his inner resentment, he can only tell his son-in-law Fan Xian, "Our greatest pleasure is to fight this person," before packing up and leaving the capital, entrusting his fate to uncertain times. This old order has long lost its sense of justice and morality, leaving people trapped in a meaningless cycle.
Journey to Liberation
Fan Xian, an incurable humanist, faces a world where life is treated as insignificant. Old Jin visits the Bao Yue Tower to see his daughter but is killed upon leaving. The Crown Prince casually orders the deaths of dozens of guards and the massacre of the Shi family town's residents. Yuan Mr. (played by Luo Eryang) complains about the food, leading the Grand Princess to order the chefs' execution and their bodies used as fertilizer. Ming Qingda's (played by Ning Li) cousin readily takes the blame and commits suicide on command. Overnight, the San Da Fang are burned to the ground, killing dozens of innocent people. This inverted world awakens Fan Xian to the entrenched interests and systemic corruption.
The unresolved death of Old Jin exposes the deep-rooted interests at play. The unexplained death of Lai Mingcheng reveals the underlying issues. The corruption in the imperial examination implicates all the noble families, highlighting the need for systemic overhaul. The past is but a prelude; as long as Emperor Qing lives, disaster persists. The old generation is powerless to break free from their iron cage, but the new players have the courage and ability to overturn the game. Fan Xian evolves from a reluctant pawn in the first season to a strategic player in the second. By the third season, he aims to defeat Emperor Qing and establish the ideal world envisioned by Ye Qingmei (played by Gu Yuhan).
Screenwriter Wang Juan has outlined the three-season arc on Weibo, indicating that under the current rules, defeating Emperor Qing is impossible. To reverse the situation, the rules must be rewritten. Thus, the San Da Fang in Jiangnan become the critical turning point. The geographic and temporal distance between Jiangnan and the capital provides Fan Xian with the space to execute his plans.
Fan Xian has strong allies in Wang Qinian (played by Tian Yu) and Deng Ziyue (played by Yu Ailei), the protection of his foster father, and master, and support from Lin Wan'er (played by Li Qin), Fan Ruoruo (played by Song Yi), and Yan Bingyun (played by Wu Xingjian). He also benefits from the financial backing of Fan Sizhe (played by Guo Qilin) and Ye Qingmei's legacy, along with his knowledge of modern literature, history, and science. This sets the stage for a revolutionary war against imperial, feudal, and autocratic oppression.
"Joy of Life" is both an exhilarating and profound series. It is a historical drama with a touch of science fiction, a light-hearted yet serious show, a relaxing watch, and a thought-provoking narrative. The outstanding reception and commercial success of the second season ensure that the third season's creation is on track. Wang Juan is committed to delivering the script promptly, and New Classics Media is prepared to reunite the original cast against all odds. We eagerly await the completion of this trilogy, marking a new milestone for this classic work series.
