Joy of Life

 Joy of Life – 7/10

Tags: Historical / Political Intrigue / Male Lead-Centric / Xiao Zhan Cameo
Categories: One-Time Watches, ML-Centric Dramas I Tolerated, C-Dramas With Too Much Politics, Liked the Villain More Than the Hero, Watched for Xiao Zhan

To be honest, I started Joy of Life purely for Xiao Zhan’s cameo—and yes, it was totally worth it, even if it was way too short. I would’ve loved to see more of him, but even that brief appearance had the charm I expect from him.

Outside of that, the drama was just okay for me. I usually don’t get into male lead-heavy stories unless I already love the actor, and this one didn’t do much to change that. The main lead was serviceable—not bad, but not someone I was emotionally invested in.

There’s a lot of politics in this story—plotting, alliances, betrayals, strategy, etc. It’s good if you like that style of drama, but I personally found it a bit much. And then there’s the harem setup again, which I’m honestly tired of. It always ends up reducing the female characters to plot devices.

But credit where it’s due—the second prince (if I got that right) had this charming villainy that was fun to watch. He had more presence and personality than the main character at times.

Verdict: I only tuned in for Xiao Zhan’s appearance, and while it was fleeting, it made the watch worth it for me. The rest of the drama was passable, but not something I’d revisit. Too much politics, not enough heart.

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