Joy of Life (TV series)
Joy of Life (Chinese: 庆余年; pinyin: Qìng Yúnián), also known as Thankful for the Remaining Years, is a 2019 Chinese television series that is based on the novel Qing Yunian (庆余年) by Mao Ni.[1] It stars Zhang Ruoyun, Li Qin and Chen Daoming.[2][3][4] The series premiered on Tencent Video and iQiyi on November 26, 2019.[5][6]
Joy of Life | |
---|---|
Also known as | Celebrating an Affluent Year |
Traditional | 慶餘年 |
Simplified | 庆余年 |
Mandarin | Qìng Yúnián |
Genre | |
Based on | Qing Yu Nian by Mao Ni |
Written by | Wang Juan |
Directed by | Sun Hao |
Starring | |
Opening theme | "One Life One Thought" by Li Jian |
Ending theme | "Remaining Years" by Xiao Zhan |
Country of origin | China |
Original language(s) | Mandarin |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 46 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Chen Yingjie |
Production location(s) | |
Editor(s) | Zhang Jia |
Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
Running time | 40-45 minutes |
Production company(s) |
|
Distributor | New Classics Media |
Release | |
Original network | |
Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
Audio format | Stereo |
First shown in | China |
Original release | November 26, 2019 |
Plot
This is the story of Fan Xian, a normal civilian whose life is suddenly disrupted by assassins, politics, and his secret background. He learns martial arts, and finds himself in an arranged marriage with Lin Wan'er, a chicken drumstick princess.
Cast
Main
Actor | Character | Introduction |
---|---|---|
Zhang Ruoyun[7] Haolin Han as young Fan Xian [8] |
Fan Xian / Fan Shen | Fan Jian's adopted son; the son of the emperor and Ye Qingmei. He is skilled in poison, medicine and martial arts. His level of martial arts is between level 7 and level 8 but it can reach level 9 when someone close to him dies, this can be seen when he defeated and later killed an 8th level martial artist with ease who was twice his size. He has memories from the 21st Century which allows him to use that knowledge to his advantage. Lin Wan'er's love interest and fiancee. |
Li Qin[9] | Lin Wan'er | Commandery Princess. The illegitimate daughter of Lin Ruofu and the Elder Princess. Fan Xian's love interest and fiancee. She met Fan Xian in a temple while holding a chicken drumstick. She suffers from Tuberculosis, later Fan Xian treats her disease. |
Chen Daoming[10] | Emperor | The ruler of Southern Qing. (Besides his surname Li, his given name was never mentioned, as the author said that such a role that could be simply referred as "His Majesty, The Emperor" needed no given name) |
Supporting
Southern Qing Empire
Imperial palace
Actor | Character | Introduction |
---|---|---|
Zheng Yuzhi | Empress Dowager | Empress Dowager of Qing. Mother of the Emperor, Elder Princess Li Yunrui and Prince of Jing. Eunuch Hong attends to her. |
Yuan Quan | Ye Qingmei | Fan Xian's birth mother, and lover of the emperor. Her inventions made the royal family wealthy which created the Royal Treasury and also founded the Overwatch department. |
Li Xiaoran[11] | Li Yunrui | Eldest Princess(equivalent to the west's Princess Royal) and Lin Wan'er's mother. Younger sister of the Emperor although they are not blood related. She currently controls the Royal Treasury which will be passed on to whoever marries Wan'er. |
Lin Jing | Noble Consort Shu | The mother of the second prince. She enjoys reading books and is very calm and awkward around people. |
Deng Tongtian | Concubine Yi | Liu Ruyu's cousin; the mother of the third prince (the fourth prince by birth order, as the Crown Prince is excluded from the ranking). |
Qiao Hong | Talented Lady Ning | The mother of the eldest prince. Originally she admires Chen Pingping. A native of Dongyi, her foreign blood bars her son from the succession. |
Liu Duanduan | Li Chengze | The second prince of Qing. Born by Noble Consort Shu. He appears laidback but underneath he is calculative and hides his true nature. |
Zhang Haowei | Li Chengqian | Crown Prince of Qing and the third prince of Qing by birth order. |
Liu Runnan[12] | Li Hongcheng | Son of the Prince of Jing, who is the full younger brother of the Qing Emperor. Close friend and cousin of the second prince. |
Imperial court
Actor | Character | Introduction |
---|---|---|
Yu Yang[13] | Lin Ruofu | Prime Minister of Qing. Lin Wan'er', Lin Dabao and Lin Gong's father. |
Gao Shuguang[14] | Fan Jian | Count of Sinan and Assistant Minister of Revenue. Fan Ruoruo and Fan Sizhe's biological father. Fan Xian's adoptive father. |
Chang Cheng | Guo Youzhi | Minister of Rites. Father of Guo Baokun |
Li Jianyi | Mei Zhili | Local Prefect of the Capital City. He acts as the judge in civil court |
Cui Peng | Gong Dian | The emperor's bodyguard and Vice-Commander of the Imperial Guards. 8th level martial artist |
Cui Zhigang | Eunuch Hou | The emperor's head eunuch |
Du Yuming | Eunuch Hong Siku | Empress Dowager's head eunuch. Reputed to be one of the four martial grandmasters. |
Control department aka Overwatch
Actor | Character | Introduction |
---|---|---|
Wu Gang[15] | Chen Pingping | Ruthless and astute head of the government's Overwatch Department, an investigative agency that monitors other government branches. Is considered to be the second most powerful person in Southern Qing. |
Hai Yitian | Zhu Ge | Head of the first bureau of the Overwatch Department, the branch in charge of the capital city. |
Liu Hua[16] | Fei Jie | Head of the third bureau of the Overwatch Department, the branch specialising in poison and gadgets. Fan Xian’s first teacher. Master of poisons and medicine. |
Dong Jingchuan | Senior Leng | Acting head of the third bureau of the Overwatch Department. |
Li Qiang | Yan Ruohai | Head of the fourth bureau of the Overwatch Department, the branch in charge of everything outside the capital city, including foreign espionage. |
Hei Qi | Head of the fifth bureau of the Overwatch Department, the armed division known as the Black Knights. | |
Wang Yifu | Ying Zi (Shadow) | Head of the sixth bureau of the Overwatch Department, the assassination branch. Known as Lord Shadow. He appears mysterious and no one has ever seen his face under his mask and hood. He is highly skilled in martial arts and according to Chen Ping Ping, he can wipe out an army by himself. |
Jiang Yang | Xuan Jiu | Head of the eighth bureau of the Overwatch Department, the branch in charge of publication of books. |
Tian Yu[17] | Wang Qinian | A notary of the first bureau. |
Xiao Zhan[18] | Yan Bingyun | Yan Ruohai's son. He is dispatched as the spymaster in Northern Qi |
Fan's family and household
Actor | Character | Introduction |
---|---|---|
Cao Cuifen | Fan Jian's mother. Fan Xian's (adoptive) grandmother. Fan Ruoruo and Fan Sizhe's biological grandmother. She lives in Danzhou and looked after Fan Xian when he was born. Fan Xian deliberately asked his grandmother to act cold towards him so she wouldn't be targeted by enemies who wants him dead. She cares deeply for Fan Xian. | |
Zhao Ke[19] | Liu Ruyu | Fan Jian's second wife and Fan Sizhe's mother |
Song Yi[20] | Fan Ruoruo | Fan Jian's daughter, Fan Xian's (adoptive) younger sister, and Fan Sizhe's elder sister. She is known to be the most talented girl in the capital. |
Guo Qilin[21] | Fan Sizhe | Fan Jian's son with Liu Ruyu. Fan Xian (adoptive) and Fan Ruoruo's younger brother. Is very focused on money. |
Wang Yang[22] | Teng Zijing | Originally a member of the fourth bureau of the control department, later Fan Xian's friend and bodyguard. |
Han Yuanqi | Teng Zijing's son. |
Others
Actor | Character | Introduction |
---|---|---|
Tong Mengshi[23] | Wuzhu | A blind martial arts grandmaster and loyal servant of Ye Qingmei. He serves Fan Xian under orders from his mother. Only a few people know of his existence |
Li Zifeng | Yan Xiaoyi | Head of the Palace Guard. The only existing 9th level archery martial artist. He has sharp ears that allow him to distinguish different people's breathing in nearby surroundings. He was saved and promoted from a hunter by Princess Yunrui, he kept loyal to her. |
Kang Jie | Lin Gong | Lin Ruofu's second son and Lin Wan'er's older brother, he dislikes Fan Xian. |
Lin Dabao | Lin Ruofu's eldest son. He suffered an illness a young age which impacted his mental development. He and Fan Xian get along well. | |
Jia Jinghui | Guo Baokun | Guo Youzhi's son. Friend of the Crown Prince. |
Xiao Haoran | He Zongwei | An orator/lawyer who often argues cases in favour of the aristocrats, much to the disgust of the commoners. |
Han Jiunuo[24] | Ye Ling'er | Lin Wan'er's friend and daughter of the head of the Garrison |
Li Shen[25] | Gao Da | A guard escort accompanying Fan Xian to Northern Qi. |
Si Gujian | One of four martial arts grandmasters. Resides in Dongyi. His disciples are never without a sword. |
Empire of Northern Qi
Actor | Character | Introduction |
---|---|---|
Liang Aiqi | Empress Dowager of Northern Qi. | |
Liu Meitong[26] | Zhan Doudou | Emperor of Northern Qi. |
Li Chun[27] | Si Lili | A spy from Northern Qi to infiltrate Southern Qing. Noble Consort of Northern Qi. Granddaughter of a Qing prince (presumably an uncle of the Qing Emperor). |
Yu Xiaowei[28] | Shen Zhong | Commander of the Jinyiwei Guards. He is highly skilled in martial arts and appears cunning and sadistic. |
Xin Zhilei[29] | Haitang Duoduo | Blessed Maiden of Northern Qi. 9th level martial artists. Youngest disciple of Ku He. |
Yu Rongguang | Xiao En | Zhuang Mohan's younger brother. Former Northern Qi spymaster. Is captured and imprisoned by the Overwatch Department more than a decade before the start of the story |
Sun Yimu[30] | Lang Tao | Discple of Northern Qi's grandmaster Ku He. One of the most powerful martial artists in the world. |
He Ziming | Shang Shan Hu | Northern Qi general. God-son of Xiao En. It is not known whether his surname is Shang or Shangshan |
Guo Jia Nuo | He Daorin | Northern Qi swordmaster and 9th level martial artist. |
Ku He | Uncle of the Emperor of Northern Qi. One of four martial arts grandmasters. Wants Xiao En dead |
Production
Principal photography commenced in January 2018 and the entire filming wrapped up in August 2018.[31]
Reception
The drama received positive reviews for its skillful adaptation of the original novel, comedic elements and logical story flow.[32] It also received praise for its cinematography, acting performance, special effects and action scenes; as well as its tight plot and interesting storyline.[33]
Awards and nominations
Award | Category | Nominee | Results | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Film and TV Role Model 2019 Ranking | Popular Web Series | Joy of Life | Won | [34] |
China Literature Award Ceremony | IP Adapted Drama of the Year | Won | [35] | |
26th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Television Series | Nominated | [36] | |
Best Director | Sun Hao | Nominated | ||
Best Adapted Screenplay | Wang Juan | Won | ||
Best Actor | Zhang Ruoyun | Nominated | ||
Best Supporting Actor | Chen Daoming | Nominated | ||
Tian Yu | Won |
Soundtrack
Mainland China
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singers | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "One Life One Thought (一念一生)" (Opening theme song) | Li Jian | Li Jian | Li Jian | 04:36 |
2. | "Remaining Years (余年)" (Ending theme song) | Lu Jingya | Chen Shimei | Xiao Zhan | 04:25 |
Hong Kong
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singers | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Coldest Day (最冷的一天)" (Opening theme song) | Sandy Chang | Alan Cheung | Brian Tse | 03:29 |
Taiwan
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singers | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Anything Goes (皆可)" (Opening theme song) | Xiaoxie Lan (藍小邪) | Terence Lam | Hebe Tien | 04:26 |
2. | "One, after Another (一一)" (Ending theme song) | Radio Mars (火星電台) | Radio Mars (火星電台) | Hebe Tien | 04:10 |
International broadcast
Region | Network | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
TVB Jade | 2 March - 18 April (Monday to Friday at 9:30 PM) & 21 March (Saturday at 8:30 PM back to back episodes) | Dubbed with Cantonese | |
8TV (Malaysia) | 15 May - (Monday to Friday at 8:30 PM) | Original |
References
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